Residents of Barangay Tamlang, Escalante City, Negros Occidental, who evacuated following an encounter between the 79th Infantry Battalion and remnants of the New People’s Army, returned home on Tuesday, June 2.
A total of 150 families, comprising 554 individuals, who had evacuated to the Tamlang Elementary School, decamped and returned home, 1st Lt. Fevie Fajardo, the 79th IB civil-military operations officer, said.
A stress debriefing and psychosocial support activity was held, and food assistance was given to the evacuees before they returned home.
A 79th Infantry Battalion (IB) soldier was killed during the encounter with about five remnants of the NPA in Barangay Tamlang on Monday afternoon, Fajardo earlier said.
The 79th IB soldiers were in the area following intelligence reports that the armed group was planning attacks against civilians.
The Army was still conducting pursuit operations against the fleeing rebels on Tuesday, Fajardo said.
The rebels involved in the encounter were responsible for the killing of civilians, including two in Calatrava on May 5 and May 14, she added.
Meanwhile, an alleged member of the armed group was arrested at a joint Armed Forces of the Philippines–Philippine National Police checkpoint at Purok Crotons, Barangay Mabini, Escalante City, at 6:05 p.m. on Monday, a police report said.
The arrested suspect was identified as alias “Jan-jan”, 41, of Sitio Napungalan, Barangay Jonobjonob, Escalante City.
Jan-jan, who was on board a motorcycle, was flagged down but refused to stop. He abandoned his vehicle and fled on foot.
During the pursuit, he drew a .45 caliber pistol but was subdued and arrested by pursuing law enforcers.
Officers recovered a .45 caliber pistol with a magazine loaded with five rounds of live ammunition, police said.*
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