About 460 residents, or 116 families, were displaced following an encounter between the Philippine Army and members of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Sitio Balao, Brgy. Tan-awan, Kabankalan City, Thursday afternoon, Sept. 4.
Col. Erwin Lamzon, spokesperson of the Army’s 3rd Infantry Division, said soldiers from the 94th Infantry Battalion engaged NPA rebels in a firefight that lasted about 25 minutes.
One CAFGU member was injured in the face by a ricochet from shrapnel.
Lamzon added that troops also observed one NPA member wounded and carried away by three other rebels.
The Kabankalan City Government sheltered the displaced families at the Palawis Day Care Center.
Of those affected, 13 families were from Sitio Balaw, 58 from Sitio Palawis, 16 from Sitio Alambihod, and 29 from Sitio Bulusan, all in Brgy. Tan-awan.
Mayor Benjie Miranda assured residents that the local government is committed to their safety and welfare, while authorities said assistance and support will be extended to all affected families.*