By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Philippine Army 303rd Infantry Brigade (303IB) commander, Brigadier General Benedict Arevalo, believes the New People’s Army (NPA) insurgents that were engaged by their units in Manjuyod, Negros Oriental last Friday and Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental over the weekend all belong to one group.
According to Arevalo, NPA units are on the run due to recent anti-insurgency operations being conducted in the area.
In addition, new information revealed by 303IB further confirmed rebels suffered casualties in the Himamaylan City gun battle as soldiers from the 62nd Infantry Battalion (62IB) discovered significant bloodstains in the area previously held by the rebels as well as the area where they retreated.
Arevalo also left a standing order to army units in the area to continue their pursuit and prevent the rebels from conducting any atrocious activities.
Over the weekend, the 62IB clashed with around 15 NPA rebels in Himamaylan City’s Barangay Buenavista.
The rebels were eventually forced to flee after government forces took control of their lair.
62IB said, following the encounter, residents reported two NPA rebels were killed in the fight and dragged away by their comrades.
Soldiers recovered 45 rounds of M16 ammunition, trip wires for an improvised explosive device, a backpack, two NPA sweatshirts, a waller, medical kits, and the rebels’ personal belongings./DGB, WDJ