Two suspected rebels were killed and a soldier was injured in separate encounters in Negros Island on Maundy Thursday, April 14, the Army’s 3rd Infantry Division reported.
A soldier of the 94th Infantry Battalion was slightly injured, while an alleged New People’s Army member identified only as alias Jhonny was killed in a 5-minute encounter in Sitio San Juan, Brgy. Caradio-an, Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental, at about 5:20 a.m. on April 14.
The 94th Infantry Battalion soldiers responding to reports from residents of NPA extortion activities in the area encountered about 10 rebels, the 3rd ID report said.
Recovered from the encounter site were two magazines of a .45 caliber pistol, a hand grenade, short magazine of an M-16 rifle, a tablet, medical kit, and backpack, it added.
Maj. Gen. Benedict Arevalo, the 3rd Infantry (Spearhead) Division commander, said the frequent movement of the NPA rebels is connected to the upcoming elections.
“There is a high possibility that they are trying to intensify their extortion scheme and to also stage attacks, days before the May 9 election. But we, together with the support of the communities and government agencies will not stop to spoil their plans and to hunt them down”, he said.
An alleged NPA member was also killed in an encounter with 11th Infantry Battalion soldiers at So. Tulong, Brgy Enrique Villanueva, Sibulan, Negros Oriental, about 8 a.m. Thursday, the 3rd ID reported.
The 11th Infantry Battalion soldiers responding to a tip-off from the local populace of NPA extortion activities engaged 12 rebels in a 15-minute firefight.
At around 2 p.m., operating troops discovered a cadaver near a creek in the area wearing a green NPA uniform and boots, the 3rd ID report said.
The fatality was identified as Jonard Salo, alias Lino, Rapid and Nikko, an alleged NPA team leader of the dismantled South East Front.
Based on information received, another two NPA members were wounded in the encounter, the report added.
Recovered from the encounter site were an M-14 rifle, M-16 A1 rifle with scope, KG-9 rifle, three rifle grenades, five anti-personnel mines, ten 12-gauge shotgun ammunition, three M-16 magazines, one M-14 magazine, a KG-9 magazine, four M-203 ammunition, subversive documents, and 12 backpacks, it said.*