By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

A clash erupted yesterday morning between elements of the Philippine Army 15th Infantry Battalion (15IB) and Kabankalan City police against suspected members of the New People’s Army (NPA) at the city’s Sitio Amian in Barangay Tampalon.

Philippine Army 303rd Infantry Brigade (303IB) commander, Brigadier General Benedict Arevalo, said the 15IB and police visited the area as early as Monday night after receiving complaints from local residents after they supposedly saw several armed individuals in the area.

Around 5:50 a.m., as army and police units were conducting combat operations, they spotted around 20 NPA rebels and a gun battle ensued for at least 20 minutes before the rebels withdrew.

Arevalo said units in the area recovered an M16 assault rifle with ammunition; 21 7.62mm bullets for an AK-47; binoculars; medical equipment; and a transistor radio.

Also recovered from the encounter site are several electronics, subversive documents, and extortion letters from the NPA.

The general believes the rebels suffered casualties from the battle, as some of the clothes and personal belongings of the rebels showed “bullet marks.”

Government forces did not suffer injuries.

Arevalo added, they are still conducting pursuit operations against the rebels./DGB, WDJ