4 “NPA” rebels killed, soldier wounded in weekend clash in Tanjay, Negros Oriental

From the Philippine News Agency (May 25): 4 “NPA” rebels killed, soldier wounded in weekend clash in Tanjay, Negros Oriental

A Philippine Army soldier was wounded while four suspected members of the rebel New People’s Army (NPA), one of them a “ranking leader”, were reported killed in fresh encounters in the hinterlands of Tanjay City, Negros Oriental Saturday.

Also, two alleged NPA members surrendered to authorities following the clashes in Sitio Pitawa, Barangay Sto. Niño in Tanjay City on Saturday afternoon, an initial report from the Philippine National Police (PNP) said Sunday.

Early reports from the PNP said that around 4 o’clock in the afternoon of Saturday, one section of combined elements of the 3rd Military Intelligence Battalion and 79th IB led by Capt. Lusaylo Lunas and 1Lt. Aranas, respectively, encountered 24 fully armed men, believed members of the NPA’s South East Front of the Komiteng Rehiyon-Negros (SEF-KRN) at the sub-village of Pitawa.

The armed group was allegedly led by Romero Nabas alias Gildo, the police report said. The firefight lasted for several minutes before the suspected rebels withdrew.

About 45 minutes later, while on blocking position, another section from Alpha Company of the 79th IB led by 1Lt. Ronnie Sarmiento encountered the same group of armed men, which resulted in the surrender of two suspected NPA members, one of whom was wounded on the right foot.

The wounded-in-action soldier was identified as Cpl. Milbert Dapilaga of the 79th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army based in Siaton, Negros Oriental.

He was rushed to the Holy Child Hospital in Dumaguete City after a bullet was embedded on his leg, disclosed Brig. Gen. Francisco Patrimonio, commander of the 302nd Infantry Brigade and the mother unit of all Philippine Army units in Negros Oriental.

The Army troopers launched hot pursuit operations against the fleeing “rebels” and on Sunday morning, while scouring the vicinity of the encounter site, they found four dead persons believed to be suspected NPA members.

One of the four casualties was identified as Diosdado Aming Dacal-dacal alias Gim, squad leader of Platoon Sentro de Gravidad of the SEF-KRN, while the three other male casualties remain unidentified, disclosed Lt. Erick Wynmer Calulot, acting Civil Military Operations Officer of the 79th IB.

One M-16 armalite rifle was also recovered from the encounter site, believed to be that of the alleged NPA group.

Lt. Col. Harold Pascua, acting commanding officer of the 79th IB, said the weekend encounters in Sto. Niño, Tanjay City was initiated by the 302nd Brigade.

The clashes came on the heels of the recent declaration of Negros Oriental by government authorities as conflict-manageable and development-ready, a term used in relation to the insurgency problem in the province which the military said has been reduced to an insignificant level.

Last April 3, government forces and suspected NPA members also engaged in a series of firefights in Sto. Niño, Tanjay City which led to the evacuation of residents in the area to avoid being caught in the crossfire.

As of Sunday, Army soldiers continued with their operations in search of the alleged NPA group, Calulot said.

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