The Army’s 94th Infantry Battalion soldiers seized two high-powered firearms and several war materials in an encounter with members of the New People’s Army in Sitio Dangalon, Barangay Hilamonan in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental, 6:20 p.m. Thursday, May 11.
The Kabankalan City government evacuated 62 families with 232 members from Sitio Dangalon to ensure their safety, Mayor Benjie Miranda said Friday.
The encounter took place while troops were responding to reports from the local populace on the presence of at least 15 armed NPA members in the area extorting medicines for their wounded comrades, the Army’s 3rd Infantry Division said in a press statement Friday.
The firefight which lasted for about 20 minutes resulted in the seizure of an M-16 rifle, an M-4 rifle, two short magazines for an M-6, several rounds of 5.56mm live ammunition, and other personal belongings.
No one was hurt from the government side, while the rebels are believed to have suffered at least two casualties based on heavy bloodstains found at the encounter site, the Army said.
The 94th IB encountered the same group of rebels in Barangay Buenavista, Himamaylan City, resulting in the death of an NPA member and the seizure of an M653 rifle on May 3.
“As I have always said, they can run, but they can’t hide for we have the support of the Negrenses who are already fed up with their deceptions and atrocities. The people’s support is our motivation to sustain our operations against this social menace. We will not stop until we totally eradicate them,” MGen. Marion Sison, 3ID commander, said.*