Sunday, May 5, 2019

Another young NPA fighter falls in southern Negros clash

From the Philippine News Agency (May 5, 2019): Another young NPA fighter falls in southern Negros clash



Some of the items recovered by Army's 62nd IB troops after an encounter with New People's Army fighters that resulted in the capture of a 13-year-old fighter in Sitio Dawhan, Barangay Buenavista in Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental on May 4, 2019. (Photo courtesy of 62nd IB)

A 13-year-old boy left behind by his fellow New People’s Army (NPA) fighters was taken into custody by government troops following a clash in Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental on Saturday.

The encounter in Sitio Dawhan, Barangay Buenavista took place around 7 a.m. while soldiers of the Philippine Army’s 62nd Infantry Battalion (62IB) were conducting security operations ahead of the May 13 mid-term elections.

Lt. Col. Egberto Dacoscos, commanding officer of 62IB, said the minor was found by the troops at the encounter site after his comrades fled.

The boy was turned over to the Himamaylan City Police Station and endorsed to the Department of Social Welfare and Development afterwards, according to the 62IB report.

Dacoscos said he deployed troops to Sitio Dawhan after receiving information about the presence of the communist rebels harassing the residents and extorting from farmers.

“We appreciate the bravery of our civilian-partner stakeholders who reported the presence of these abusive terrorists,” the army official said.

During the 15-minute firefight, government troops engaged at least 20 NPA guerrillas believed to be led by alias Jeron of Tahod Ilahas Territorial Platoon of Central Negros 2.

The report of the 303rd Infantry Brigade showed that five communist rebels could have been killed in the encounter, based on reports from civilians and as shown in the amount of blood stains found around the encounter site.

Troops recovered an anti-personnel mine, an NPA flag, seven backpacks, subversive documents, clothes, rubber boots, medicines, food items, among others.

On January 1 this year, the 62IB troops also found an NPA hideout in Sitio Dawhan.

During an encounter on April 9, soldiers also dismantled the communist rebels’ lair in Sitio Asaran, Barangay Buenavista.

Dacoscos commended his troops for their perseverance and alertness in facing the enemies.

“We will continue our pursuit operations to stop the NPA (atrocities) in the coming elections,” he added.

The Communist Party of the Philippines-NPA is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, European Union, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1068939

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