Units of the Philippine Army 301st Infantry Brigade (301 IB) are currently on alert in Panay following a reported encounter with the New People’s Army over the weekend.

According to Philippine Army 61st Infantry Battalion (61 IB) commander, Lieutenant Colonel Sisenando Magbalot, Jr., members of his battalion were engaged in a five minute clash with NPA members in Janiuay, Iloilo last Saturday, October 21.

Earlier this month, the NPA left seven injured, including six soldiers and one civilian, in the said town.

Magbalot reported the use of an improvised explosive device (IED) by the rebel group during the earlier incident./WDJ