Four suspected New People’s Army (NPA) rebels were captured by elements of the 94th Infantry Battalion (94IB) of the Philippine Army following a gun battle at Sitio Cunalom in Himamaylan City’s Barangay Carabalan early yesterday morning.

Authorities identified the four as 41-year-old Jovel Pacheco; 37-year-old Francisco Verde, Jr.; 32-year-old Gene Boy Verde; and 22-year-old Ronald Pacheco.

94IB commander, Lt. Colonel Angelo Guzman, said they responded to the area after receiving repeated complaints from local residents that they were being extorted by the rebels for the past few weeks.

The gun battle lasted for at least five minutes wherein the government troops engaged five members of the NPA.

The insurgents attempted to retreat, although four of them were eventually captured by the government forces, while one of the rebels managed to escape.

Soldiers recovered a .22 caliber rifle, a homemade shotgun, two revolvers, a .40mm grenade launcher ammunition, and other war materiel.

The seized firearms were turned over to the Himamaylan City Police Station, while the four captured insurgents are facing charges for illegal possession of firearms and explosives as well as the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020.

All four are now detained at the Himamaylan City Police Station./DGB, WDJ