‘Child soldier’ captured during operation

By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Philippine Army 62nd Infantry Battalion (62IB) soldiers stormed a New People’s Army (NPA) encampment Saturday morning at Sitio Dawhan, located in Himamaylan City’s Barangay Buenavista, following a gun battle.

According to the 62IB, their units were conducting security operations in preparation for the upcoming 2019 midterm elections when a local resident approached them and complained that several NPA insurgents were spotted nearby, harassing and forcibly extorting from farmers.

Government troops immediately responded and encountered between 20 and 35 rebels at a temporary encampment.

A gun battle ensued for at least 15 minutes until the NPA fighters were forced to abandon their encampment and fled in different directions.

The 62IB noted the capture of a 13-year-old NPA “child soldier” in the battle, identifying him as Eljohn Quilano, a resident of Sitio Dawhan in the said barangay.

Local residents also claimed the five NPA members either died or suffered injuries in the battle.

Government forces also recovered an improvised explosive device, seven backpacks containing subversive documents, and an NPA flag.

The 62IB added, troops and local police were alerted and still continuing their pursuit operations against the remaining rebels./DGB, WDJ