Seven alleged remnants of the New People’s Army (NPA) were killed in an encounter with soldiers of the Army’s 47th and 15th Infantry Battalions in Sitio Cogon, Barangay Gatuslao, Candoni, Negros Occidental, at about 3:43 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 21.
The police recovered gasoline from the encounter site raising suspicion that they may have been planning to set a section of the controversial 6,000-hectares palm oil plantation of Hacienda Asia Plantation Inc. on fire.
The slain rebels have yet to be identified.
The soldiers of the 47th and 15th Infantry Battalions recovered eight high powered firearms – five M-16 assault rifles, two AK 47 automatic rifles, and a M653 assault rifle, a grenade and an improvised explosive device from the encounter site, Brig. Gen. Joey Escanillas, 302nd Infantry Brigade, said.
They received a tip on the presence of the rebels in the area and on the way to the site the government soldiers encountered the rebels, he said.
The encounter with about 10 remnants of the dismantled NPA South West Front of Komiteng Rehiyonal Negros/Cebu/Bohol/Siquijor lasted 45 minutes, Escanillas said.
He said the rebels could have been in area to recruit new members.
But Escanillas also did not rule out the possibility that the rebels intended to cause damage to the palm oil plantation or to attack government troops in the area.
The cadavers of the slain rebels were brought to the Candoni town poblacion for identification.
PCol. Rainerio de Chavez, provincial police director of Negros Occidental, ordered the Candoni police to check hospitals and other medical facilities, for persons being treated for gunshot injuries.
No casualties were reported on the government side.
“This successful encounter reaffirms our commitment to denying this terrorist group the space and opportunity to resurge,” Maj. Gen. Marion Sison, 3rd Infantry Division commander, said.
“We are determined to ensure that the hard-won peace and stability of Negros Island will not be compromised. Together, we will continue to protect and sustain the gains we have made in the Island with a Stable Internal Peace and Security (SIPS) environment,” he added.
He reiterated his call to the remaining rebels to surrender, and warned them that their continued path of violence will only lead to a tragic end.
“We will not tire of urging you to abandon this path of armed struggle. It brings only death and suffering. There is still time to choose a peaceful way where you can have a fresh start,” he added.
Candoni has been the site of numerous encounters between government troopers and rebels, operating in southern Negros.*
They received a tip on the presence of the rebels in the area and on the way to the site the government soldiers encountered the rebels, he said.
The encounter with about 10 remnants of the dismantled NPA’s South West Front of Komiteng Rehiyonal Negros/Cebu/Bohol/Siquijor lasted 45 minutes, Escanillas said.
He said the rebels could have been in area to recruit new members.
But Escanillas also did not rule out the possibility that the rebels intended to cause damage to the palm oil plantation or to attack government troops in the area.
The cadavers of the slain rebels were brought to the Candoni town poblacion for identification.
PCol. Rainerio de Chavez, provincial police director of Negros Occidental, ordered the Candoni police to check hospitals and other medical facilities, for persons being treated for gunshot injuries.
No casualties were reported on the government side.
“This successful encounter reaffirms our commitment to denying this terrorist group the space and opportunity to resurge,” Maj. Gen. Marion Sison, 3rd Infantry Division commander, said.
“We are determined to ensure that the hard-won peace and stability of Negros Island will not be compromised. Together, we will continue to protect and sustain the gains we have made in the Island with a Stable Internal Peace and Security (SIPS) environment,” he added.
He reiterated his call to the remaining rebels to surrender, and warned them that their continued path of violence will only lead to a tragic end.
“We will not tire of urging you to abandon this path of armed struggle. It brings only death and suffering. There is still time to choose a peaceful way where you can have a fresh start,” he added.
Candoni has been the site of numerous encounters between government troopers and rebels, operating in southern Negros.*