Two more suspected members of the New People’s Army (NPA) were killed in an encounter with state troopers in Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental, on Tuesday, March 23, bringing the death toll to 10.
Maj. Cenon Pancito III, public affairs office chief of the 3rd Infantry Division of the Philippine Army, said the soldiers are still conducting pursuit operations against the fleeing rebels, who withdrew towards the northwest direction of Sitio Agit in Barangay Trinidad.
Soldiers who scoured the area found two more dead bodies Wednesday, March 24, he said, adding that they could have been wounded from the firefight and died.
Pursuing soldiers also captured two suspected rebels who were hiding in the vicinity, he said.
Pancito identified the arrested persons as Jojo Sanico, who was wounded, and Julio Rabot.
Rabot was caught giving medical aide to Sanico, he said, adding that the two were placed under police custody.
They were captured a kilometer-away from the clash site, Pancito said.
The Army initially reported that the three-hour firefight with the state troopers led to the deaths of eight suspected rebels.
State forces also recovered 11 high-powered firearms.
Col. Michael Samson, acting 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, assured the people of Negros that the Army will always be on full alert to prevent the NPA from their hostile activities.
“I urge our soldiers to relentlessly pursue the NPAs who had been threatening our people in the countryside. I also encourage the people to continue giving information on the presence of NPAs in their communities in order for us to prevent them from casting terroristic activities that could hamper the ongoing peace and development in the area,” Samson said.
POSSIBLE RETALIATION
Pancito said the Army is on alert for possible retaliatory attacks from the NPA following the death of their comrades.
He said they are reminding the troops and other government forces to be on alert for possible retaliation, “they have to keep on guard in their respective stations.”
He said the army continues to be on a pro-active stance to prevent the NPA from consolidating its forces in the area.
Meanwhile, said Police Lt. Gen. Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar, officer-in-charge of the Philippine National Police, in a statement Wednesday, March 24, said: “As law enforcers and protectors of the Filipino people, the PNP and Armed Forces of the Philippines are duty bound to pursue all NPA elements spreading atrocities.”
“We are relentless in addressing the problems of insurgency so that our countrymen can enjoy a safer and more secure community,” he added.
He also said, “What is more significant here is the field experience on inter-operability by both police and military troops that resulted in the success of the operation.”
The police and military in Negros have beefed up their checkpoints and blocking forces for fleeing rebels, while local hospitals and community clinics are being monitored for the wounded rebels seeking treatment.*