The Army’s 94th Infantry (Mandirigma) Battalion figured in two skirmishes with the Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) in Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental, on Friday, October 1.
The first encounter transpired at Purok 3, Sitio Cunalom in Barangay Carabalan at about 9 a.m. Friday, an Army press release said.
The troops were conducting combat operations in response to reports of the presence of armed CPP-NPA Terrorists (CNTs) who were conducting harassment and extortion activities.
Informants also reported that the terrorist group was laying explosives in the area. The Army soldiers searched the areas and the CNTs detonated anti-personnel mines. Fortunately, no one was hurt from the government forces, as they outmaneuvered the terrorist group, the press release said.
The five minutes firefight resulted to the seizure of the enemy’s M-16 rifle with one long magazine and ammunitions, the press release added.
At about 2 p.m. the blocking force of the 94IB also figured in a five-minute clash with more or less 15 communist-terrorists in the vicinity of Sitio Lanap in Barangay Buenavista.
Seized from the encounter site were an M-14 rifle, a backpack, solar panel, power bank, and subversive documents with high intelligence value, the press release said.
Lt. Col. Angelo S. Guzman, , 94IB commander, commended the troops’ successful operations and tactical proficiency in finding and engaging the Communist rebels.
“The CTG in Negros wants to project that they are still a force to reckon with by using anti-personnel mines to inflict greater damage. This action is a clear violation of International Humanitarian Law (IHL). They are showing their true nature as anti-peace and anti-people terrorist organization with no regard to humanity,” MGen. Benedict Arevalo, 3rd Infantry (Spearhead) Division commander, said.*