The Philippine Army 94th Infantry Battalion (94IB) managed to thwart a planned offensive by the New People’s Army (NPA) against a Civilian Active Auxiliary detachment in Barangay Tacpao, Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental.

303rd Infantry Brigade commander, Colonel Benedict Arevalo, said, around 4:50 a.m. last Saturday, an estimated 12 NPA rebels opened fire at the detachment.

Members of the 94IB immediately retaliated, forcing them to retreat after a 15-minute gun battle.

Arevalo said the NPA suffered casualties in the fight as they spotted numerous blood marks in the area where the rebels were positioned.

He added, the 94IB did not suffer any casualties.

The battle was the second recorded in recent time after the same 94IB unit stumbled upon NPA rebels in the city’s Barangay Linantuyan last Monday./DGB, WDJ