About 25 families returned home on Monday after they were evacuated during an encounter between Philippine Army soldiers and suspected New People’s Army rebels in Sitio Agtatahor, Brgy. Macasilao, Calatrava, Negros Occidental, Sunday morning, Oct. 6.
1Lt Dan Carlo Samoza, 79th Infantry Battalion Civil Military Officer, told DIGICAST NEGROS they were conducting a hot pursuit operation after the encounter with the six to seven members of the NPA Northern Negros Front.
The encounter lasted about 6 to 7 minutes and there were no casualties or injured government soldiers.
Samoza said that the area is known to be formerly infested by rebels.
They were conducting their Mobile Community Sustainment Support Program when they received reports that the rebels were planning to disrupt their training, he said.
They are still confirming if there were injured rebels after the encounter as they saw blood stains in the area of the encounter.*