The Army in central Negros had four separate armed skirmishes with New People’s Army rebels in the upland barangays of Sandayao and Trinidad in Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental, Saturday, January 16, and pursuit operations are still ongoing today, January 17, Maj. Cenon Pancito, 3rd Infantry Division spokesperson, said.
The first encounter between 62IB soldiers and 20 suspected NPA rebels took place at the boundary of Sitios Punong and Batong Buang in Brgy. Trinidad, at about 1 p.m., and was followed by another one between 62IB soldiers and the rebels at Sitio Batong-Buang, Barangay Sandayao, at 1:20 p.m., Pancito said.
At 1:40 p.m. another unit of the 62ndIB encountered 20 NPA rebels in Sitio Batong-Buang, Barngay Sandayao, and fourth encounter at 4:30 pm., he added.
“Our troops are moving inch by inch as traces of the NPA suggest that they are still in the area,” he added.
Col. Michael Samson, acting commander of the 303rd Infantry Brigade, said no government soldiers were hurt, and they are still trying to establish if there were any injuries on the NPA’s side.
Pancito said the Army soldiers were still in pursuit of the rebels so reports from the field are still unavailable.*