By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga
At least two high-powered firearms were seized by elements of the 94th Infantry Battalion (94IB) following two consecutive skirmishes with New People’s Army (NPA) insurgents in Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental last Friday.
Brigadier General Leonardo Peña, commander of the 302nd Infantry Brigade, said the first skirmish took place around 9:00 a.m. at the city’s Purok 3, Sitio Cunalom in Barangay Carabalan.
Peña said the army responded to the area after receiving complaints from the local residents that they were being extorted and harassed by the rebels.
During the initial gun battle, the insurgents detonated several explosives in the area, possibly land mines in an attempt to fight off the government forces.
However, no one was hurt in the explosion and the troops later managed to outmaneuver the insurgents forcing them to retreat. The initial skirmish lasted for five minutes.
At around 2:00 p.m. a second skirmish took place in the neighboring Sitio Lanap in Barangay Buenavista after the 94IB’s blocking force encountered the retreating NPA insurgents.
They counted at least 15 NPA rebels in the group they clashed with. The fight also lasted for five minutes, before the insurgents withdrew towards the southwest direction.
During the twin clashes, government forces seized a loaded M16 assault rifle and an M14 rifle.
Government forces also seized one of the insurgent’s backpacks which contained several personal belongings and subversive documents noted by the army to have “high-intelligence value.”
No one was hurt among the government forces during the twin clashes and it is unknown if the NPA suffered casualties in the fight.
Meanwhile, 3rd Infantry Division commander Major General Benedict Arevalo slammed the NPA for detonating explosives during the initial gun battle, pointing out the insurgents violated International Humanitarian Law.
“They are showing their true nature as an anti-peace and anti-people terrorist organization with no regard to humanity,” Arevalo said.
Arevalo also reiterated his call for all Negrenses to continue participating in the government’s journey towards ending the local communist armed conflict in Negros island.
The latest clash was the second recorded in Negros following the deadly clashes in the town of Manapla which resulted to the death of four NPA rebels./DGB, WDJ