Armed clashes between Philippine Army troops and New People's Army rebels erupted anew yesterday in Escalante City, Negros Occidental, where a suspected NPA member was killed and two others, including an Army company commander, were injured.
The gunbattle between a section of the 62 nd Infantry Battalion soldiers, led by 1Lt. John Rey Espinosa, and 10 suspected NPA rebels at about 4:20 a.m. yesterday in Sitio Madrak, Brgy. Dian-ay, Escalante City, was the third recorded in Negros Occidental, in two weeks.
An alleged rebel and two Army soldiers were also killed in the Binalbagan and Himamaylan City hinterlands, earlier, military records show.
Lt. Col. Rommel Cordova, 62IB commanding officer, yesterday said his troops had responded to reports from civilians about the presence of suspected NPA rebels, reportedly engaged in extortion activities.
On their way, Cordova said, his troops were fired at by 10 armed rebels believed to be members of the Northern Negros Front, Komiteng Rehiyonal Negros. The gunbattle lasted for about 10 minutes, he said.
Cordova said his men recovered the body of a suspected rebel, while scouring the encounter site. A certain Romly Palotes, believed to be an NPA member injured in the encounter, was taken to a hospital in Sagay City by Army soldiers.
Espinosa, who had a head injury, was rushed to the Alfredo Marañon Sr. Memorial Hospital in Brgy. Bato, Sagay City, and later transferred to the Dr. Pablo O. Torre Memorial Hospital in Bacolod City.
Cordova said his troops also recovered a .45 caliber pistol with five live ammunition at the encounter site. At the same time, he said he believes more NPA rebels were injured as indicated by the bloodstains on their withdrawal routes.
In an interview with Aksyon Radyo, however, Palotes claimed that he and his two companions were fired at by alleged members of the Philippine Army, while they were on their way to fetch a “paltera (midwife).”
Maj. Gen. Aurelio Baladad, 3 rd Infantry Division commander, in a statement, expressed his sympathy to the family and relatives of the NPA rebel killed in the gunbattle.
“It is very tragic that he has taken arms against the people of Negros when only through peace can development and social justice be achieved”, Baladad said.
He also said that more troops are now in the area conducting pursuit operations against the fleeing rebels. Members of the Philippine National Police Scene of the Crime Operatives have investigated the encounter site, he said.
Baladad added that 62IB troops are also in close communication with barangay officials of Dian-ay, to ensure the safety of the residents in the area.
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