BACOLOD City – Two soldiers were killed in an armed encounter in Sitio Atubon, Barangay Tan-awan, Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental.
The shootout was between suspected members of the New People’s Army (NPA) and personnel from the Philippine Army’s 303rd Infantry Brigade (IB).
It happened around 5:30 a.m. on Saturday, lasting for almost an hour.
Captain Ruel Llanes, civil military operation officer of the 303rd IB, confirmed that two of their men were killed. They were Sergeant Sandy Arevalo and Private First Class Vicente Marcon.
Eight soldiers were also injured – Sergeant Niño Nabaunag, Private First Class Michael Besana, Private First Class Voltair Catamin, Private First Class Angelito Bariga, Private First Class Kenneth Cerbo, Private Ryan Las Piñas, Private Joven Taghap, and Private John Daryle Delgad.
According to 303rd IB commander Brigadier General Eliezer Losañes, a hot pursuit operation followed after the shootout.
Scores of suspected NPA rebels have withdrawn from the firefight bringing with them their wounded members. It was not immediately clear if they had casualties.
The soldiers were conducting patrol and combat clearing operations in the village in relation to the synchronized barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections when they chanced upon the suspected rebels, barangay officials and witnesses said. (With a report from PNA/PN)
