BY GLENDA SOLOGASTOA
ILOILO City – One Philippine Army (PA) soldier was wounded in another encounter with suspected New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in Sitio Cadinglian, Barangay Buloc, Tubungan, Iloilo.
Members of the 82nd Infantry Battalion (IB) were conducting security operations around 3:10 p.m. on Friday in the said village when they were fired upon by some 30 armed men.
“Our troops engaged the rebels. It resulted to the wounding of one of our soldiers. But the NPA withdrew in disarray to different directions after 30 minutes of firefight,” said Lieutenant Colonel Aldwine Almase, commander of the 82nd IB.
The rebels were members of the Southern Front, Komiteng Rehiyonal-Panay, he added.
The wounded soldier was Private First Class Ronald Apiladas. He was hit on his lower left extremities and hip.
The troops scoured the scene of the encounter and recovered kitchen utensils, food stuff and personal belongings.
Blood stains were seen along the NPA’s withdrawal routes, indicating they had been wounded, said Almase.
Friday’s encounter in Tubungan occurred two days after soldiers seized a rebel camp in Barangay Igcabugao, Igbaras town following a five-minute encounter with a band of armed men.
“We have already identified their lairs. They are now on the run,” said Almase.
Recovered from the rebel camp were training paraphernalia, wires for improvised explosive devices and personal belongings.
The camp was some 700 square meters wide and could accommodate around a hundred cadres, according to Major Ray Tiongson, spokesperson of the 3rd Infantry Division (3ID).
It also had three kitchens, foxholes, makeshift tents and a firing range, he added.
Major Greneral Rey Leonardo Guerrero, commander of the 3ID, lauded the 82nd IB for repelling the rebels.
“We will not let these armed groups deprive our people of peaceful and developed communities. We will continue to bring peace and development to the people, especially in remote villages,” said Guerrero said./PN
