By Mae Singuay

The Philippine Army’s 94th Infantry Battalion (IB) recovered two high-powered firearms and other weapons after a series of encounters with the New People’s Army (NPA) at Barangay Buenavista in Negros Occidental’s Himamaylan City on Sunday, October 1.

The three encounters yielded two M653 5.56mm rifles, two long magazines, four short magazines, 7.62mm ammunition, an improvised explosive device, three rifle grenades, three backpacks, a bandolier, and subversive documents.

The encounter transpired after the 94IB responded to an intelligence report from concerned civilians about the presence of the NPA conducting extortion and other criminal activities in the area, a press statement from the military said.

The first encounter occurred at 8:15 a.m. which lasted for 10 minutes, while a five-minute clash took place at 9:33 a.m. during their pursuit operations.

Bloodstains were found on the site’s withdrawal route after the clash, the Army said.

Brigadier General Orlando Edralin, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, lauded the support and cooperation of the local populace to the Army’s anti-insurgency efforts in the village.

He also commended the 94IB, led by their commander, Lieutenant Colonel Van Donald Almonte, for their relentless military operations against the armed group.

“We are determined to put an end to the terroristic activities of the communist terrorists in Himamaylan City and in the entire Negros Island, for we have the support of the people,” Edralin said./MS, WDJ