By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Around seven New People’s Army (NPA) rebels fled after getting into a gun battle with units from the Philippine Army 94th Infantry Battalion (94IB) last Thursday in Santa Catalina, Negros Oriental.

94IB commander, Lt. Colonel Randy Pagunuran, said they were conducting combat operations in the town’s Barangay Talalak after receiving complaints from local residents claimed they were being harassed and extorted by the rebels.

Pagunuran said the encounter lasted for approximately five minutes before the rebels fled in different directions.

They also believe the rebels suffered casualties during the fight.

Soldiers recovered six pieces of ammunition for a M203 grenade launcher, four 12-gauge shotgun rounds, one M16 magazine, one pair of combat boots, a black shirt, and jogging pants.

Pagunuran added, local residents have become fed up with the NPA’s presence in their community and ordered his units to continue hot-pursuit operations against the rebels./DGB, WDJ