Some 14 families fled from their homes following encounters between government soldiers and suspected rebels at Sitio Guinobatan in Barangay Caningay, Candoni, Negros Occidental, Tuesday, July 20.
2nd Lt. Weann Sandag, 15th Infantry Battalion (IB) civil military operations officer, said the residents left their houses for their safety, and barangay officials have provided relief assistance to the affected families.
The soldiers had overrun the rebels’ harbor site that can house 30 to 40 persons, Sandag said.
The soldiers were conducting combat operations in the area following the reported presence of the New People’s Army (NPA) when they encountered the armed men that resulted in a firefight, she said.
Hours later, the soldiers who were pursuing the rebels encountered them again in the area.
Police checkpoints were set up to intercept the fleeing insurgents.*