Following last weekend’s gun battle between government forces and New People’s Army insurgents at Escalante City’s Sitio Morino, located in the city’s Barangay Paitan, the number of those forced to evacuate has ballooned to at least 700. According to Philippine Army 79th Infantry Battalion (79IB) commander, Lt. Colonel Emelito Thaddeus Logan, they counted at least 109 families, or 329 individuals, evacuated at Paitan Elementary School in the city’s Barangay Paitan.
However, an additional 91 families, or 371 individuals, fled to the Libertad Elementary School in neighboring Barangay Libertad.
The military official said the local city government, along with the provincial government, have provided relief goods and medical consultations to the displaced families, along with stress debriefings.
Logan added, the displaced families will remain at the evacuation centers until the area is declared safe and cleared of insurgents.
Escalante City Mayor Melecio Yap, Jr., meanwhile, suspended classes in the affected areas until government forces have finished their clearing operations.
Last Saturday, at least five NPA  insurgents were killed following a gun battle with elements of the 79IB. During the exchange, rebel forces allegedly exploded several anti-personnel mines before withdrawing to nearby Sitio Sampinit in the same barangay.
Three soldiers, identified as Corporals Homer Aniversario, Ronald Tuhao, and Jerald Caluyo, were slightly wounded and were immediately rushed to the hospital for treatment.
Government forces also seized an anti-personnel mine, subversive documents and lecture materials, a hammock, an NPA cap, and the rebels’ personal belongings.
No civilians were hurt in the gun battle and the army has since sent in more reinforcements to the area to chase down the fleeing rebels./DGB, WDJ