Recent conflict follows last week’s encounter in the same city

By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The Philippine Army and New People’s Army (NPA) rebels exchanged gunfire yesterday afternoon at Sitio Pacama in Barangay Magballo, Kabankalan City.

Philippine Army 303rd Infantry Brigade Commander, Colonel Benedict Arevalo, said an encounter took place between members of the 15th Infantry Battalion and an estimated 10 NPA members near their Dakung Cogon Detachment in the said barangay.

Arevalo said they did not suffer any casualties from the attack and are presently trying to determine if the NPA suffered casualties on their side.

He said they do not yet know how long the encounter took place but, as of press time, a “running gun battle” is ongoing.

Arevalo added, they have requested helicopter support in the area in order to ensure there are no other NPA rebels in the area.

Last week, at least one soldier was wounded after a Philippine Army 62nd Infantry Battalion detachment was attacked by the NPA in Barangay Hilamonan, Kabankalan City.

In a subsequent social media post, the army battalion called the attacking rebels a “bunch of mad dogs” and “desperate in getting their revenge” after their Himamaylan City hideout was earlier captured./DGB, WDJ