By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

An alleged New People’s Army (NPA) insurgent was killed following a gun battle with soldiers of the Philippine Army’s 94th Infantry Battalion (94IB) at Sitio Bugo in Barangay Buenavista, Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental on Wednesday afternoon.

Philippine Army 3rd Infantry Division (3ID) spokesperson Major Cenon Pancito III said the 94IB responded to the area after they received reports from the local residents that they had spotted around seven armed men in the vicinity.

An encounter then took place at around 3:30 p.m. and lasted at least 10 minutes before the NPA fighters withdrew towards Cabadiangan creek.

The government troops soon discovered the remains of the NPA fighter in the encounter site. Recovered from the rebel was an M1 Carbine rifle and two .357 caliber pistols, Pancito said. Soldiers also recovered the personal belongings of the rebels.

Pancito added they have already identified the dead NPA insurgent, although he asked that the rebel not be named for the meantime.

The remains have also been handed over to the Himamaylan City police and the local government unit./DGB, WDJ