By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga
Elements of the 31st Division Reconnaissance Company, 62nd Infantry Battalion (62IB), and cops from the Regional Mobile Force Battalion 6 encountered New People’s Army (NPA) insurgents at Sitio Tagmanok in Himamaylan City’s Barangay Caradio-an, late Sunday evening.
62IB commander, Lt. Colonel Egberto Dacoscos, said the three units were conducting pursuit operations in the area following the incidents in the town of Isabela, wherein the house of a barangay captain was barged into by NPA rebels, followed by the clash which resulted to the death of an NPA insurgent and the wounding of another rebel.
The fight in Himamaylan City lasted for about 10 minutes until the rebels were forced to escape towards the direction of the city’s barangays San Antonio and Carabalan.
Government forces were found safe in the battle; although they believe the insurgents may have suffered casualties due to bloodstains found in the encounter site.
Authorities seized 23 rounds of 7.62 caliber ammunition, an AK47 magazine assembly, two pairs of rain boots, a shirt with the logo of the Communist Party of the Philippines, 10 meters of trip wire, two batteries, medical kits, and the insurgents’ personal belongings.
Dacoscos added the insurgents are now desperate as they have encountered frustrations and embarrassments for the last few days.
Earlier, the Isabela Police Station was placed on ‘heightened alert’ following the capture of seven suspected NPA insurgents during an encounter between the insurgent group and the 62IB in the town’s Sitio Canlusong in Barangay Cansalungon.
The town has also signed a resolution last week declaring the NPA, along with the National Democratic Front, the political arm for the Communist Party of the Philippines, “persona non-grata,” or unwelcome, in the town./DGB, WDJ
