By CESAR JOLITO III
At least 460 residents, or 116 families, were forced to leave their homes after an encounter erupted between government troops and the New People’s Army (NPA) at Barangay Tan-awan in Negros Occidental’s Kabankalan City on Thursday afternoon, September 4.
Of those affected, 13 families were from the encounter site Sitio Balao, 58 from Sitio Palawis, 16 from Sitio Alambihod, and 29 from Sitio Bulusan, all within Tan-awan.
Kabankalan Mayor Benjie Miranda assured residents that their safety and welfare remain the priority of the local government and that aid will continue to be extended.
“As long as we cannot assure them that their community is safe, we will not allow them to go back. They can be assured that the government will help to provide for their needs while they are here,” Miranda vowed.
He said that the city government, with the support of the Department of Social Welfare and Development, has already extended aid to the evacuees. Food packs, hygiene kits, water, and tents have been distributed to the affected families, who were temporarily housed at the Palawis Day Care Center.
The mayor also called on the public to cooperate with authorities, stressing the city’s goal of achieving an insurgency-free community.
As of press time, Miranda reported that the situation in Sitio Balao has returned to normal following the encounter.
Local officials have appealed for calm as relief and rehabilitation efforts are being coordinated with barangay leaders and concerned government agencies.
Authorities have been assessing the security situation in the affected sitios over the weekend.
Earlier, 3rd Infantry Division spokesperson Colonel Erwin Lamzon, said soldiers from the 94th Infantry Battalion (IB) encountered a group of NPA remnants in a firefight that lasted about 25 minutes on Thursday.
Lamzon reported that one member of the Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit (CAFGU) was injured in the face by shrapnel from a ricochet.
He added that government troops observed at least one NPA rebel being wounded and carried away by his comrades as the rebels withdrew.
‘Ambush’
In a separate statement issued on Saturday, September 6, the Romeo Nanta Command of the New People’s Army (RNC-NPA) in South Central Negros claimed responsibility for what they described as a “successful ambush” against the 94IB, CAFGU personnel, and what they referred to as “traitors to the revolution.”
The NPA described the encounter as part of its “tactical offensive” against months of military operations in the hinterland barangays of Kabankalan, including Oringao, Tan-awan, Orong, and Carol-an.
They asserted that such offensives are their response to what they called the “terrorization” of communities by the 94IB and its allied CAFGU forces.
The rebel group alleged that three government casualties were sustained, naming two individuals — identified as Rejie “Camille” Palata, an active CAFGU member, and Dulon “Suyo” Andres, who they accused of siding with military operations in Tan-awan and nearby Carol-an.
The NPA further accused government troops of retaliating with indiscriminate gunfire that lasted for nearly two hours, allegedly endangering civilians and prompting the evacuation of hundreds of residents from Sitios Balao, Palawis and Alambihod.
They also claimed that the residents fled due to fear after their homes were fired upon during the exchange.
The Army, however, has not confirmed the NPA’s claims and maintained that only one CAFGU member was wounded on the government side.
Military officials said they continue to verify reports of NPA casualties and reiterated that security operations are ongoing to ensure the safety of communities in the area.
The incident underscores the continued volatility in parts of Negros Occidental despite previous declarations of stable internal peace and security./CJ, WDJ