Firefight takes place between Army, CNTs in Southern Iloilo

From the Philippine Information Agency (May 17, 2021): Firefight takes place between Army, CNTs in Southern Iloilo (By Jemin B. Guillermo)

ILOILO CITY, May 17 (PIA) -- Government troops that was conducting combat operations encountered more or less 30 members of the New People’s Army (NPA) Southern Front at about 9:46 in the morning, May 15, 2021, at Barangay Alimodias, Miagao, Iloilo.

The 30-minute encounter took place between the operating troops of the 61st Infantry (Hunter) Battalion and members of the Suyak (SDG) Platoon, Southern Front, Komiteng Rehiyon-Panay under Joven Ceralvo, @Lex, said 61IB Civil Military Operations Officer Capt. Ferdinand De Vera in a press report.

He said the elements of the 61IB responded to the information given by the residents on suspicious individuals who were believed to be members of terrorist groups.

One soldier obtained multiple wounds due to a blast of an anti-personnel mine placed by the NPA within their temporary lair.

The wounded personnel was brought to a medical facility in Iloilo for treatment and already in stable condition.

More troops were deployed in the area to continue scouring for enemy casualties and war materiel that they may have been left behind by the NPAs.

Also, possible withdrawal routes were monitored as pursuit operations against fleeing NPA fighters were heightened.

Colonel Joel Benedict G. Batara, the 61IB Commanding Officer, in his statement, said "with the help of the populace to end the local armed conflict, the communist terrorist group has nowhere to hide.”

Batara added that “Our troops can track and find them wherever they are. We will not stop denying their presence in the communities much more allow them to sow fear and terror to the peace-loving Panayanons who, for more than five decades, have suffered much from the CPP NPA presence." (PIA6/61IB/Philippine Army)

https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1075381