By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Two suspected members of the New People’s Army (NPA) were killed in an encounter with the Philippine Army’s 62nd Infantry Battalion (62IB) at Barangay Sag-ang in Negros Occidental’s La Castellana town yesterday morning.

Authorities have yet to identify the fatalities as of press time.

First Lt. Liza de Guzman, 62IB civil-military operations officer, said they deployed their troops to Hacienda Gomez in the said village after receiving information that some NPA members were conducting recruitment and extortion activities.

A three-minute gun battle then ensued at 6:45 a.m. against the five-member group, believed to be remnants of the NPA’s Central Negros 1.

Three suspected rebels retreated, leaving behind the remains of their two comrades.

The 62IB believes the insurgents have likely retreated to the mountainous areas of neighboring Moises Padilla town and Negros Oriental’s Guihulngan City.

Authorities seized an AR15 assault rifle, a homemade shotgun, a caliber .45 pistol, and assorted ammunition from the encounter site.

Also recovered were medical paraphernalia and two backpacks containing subversive documents, as well as personal belongings.

Meanwhile, 62IB commander Lt. Colonel William Pesase acknowledged the support and cooperation of residents in Barangay Sag-ang to track down the insurgents.

Pesase said the government is giving them a chance to return to the fold of the law and avail benefits from the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program./With reports from PNA /DGB, WDJ