3 dead in gun battle between Army, NPA

From Panay News (Aug 21, 2021): 3 dead in gun battle between Army, NPA (BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL BAÑAGA)

Two suspected members of the New People’s Army (NPA) and one soldier from the Philippine Army’s 79th Infantry Battalion (79IB) died in Friday’s encounter at Hacienda Remunda, Barangay Kapitan Ramon, Silay City, Negros Occidental.

Authorities have yet to identify the slain suspected insurgents. One of the casualties was a female around 20 years old.

The slain soldier, on the other hand, was a Private First Class. His unit asked that his identity be kept for now; they would first inform his family about this death.

According to Army Colonel Inocencio Pasaporte, commander of the Philippine Army’s 303rd Infantry Brigade, 79IB troops encountered at least 20 NPA insurgents camping in the area.

The rebels scampered to different directions. They may have suffered more than just two casualties. Members of the media who were able to access the encounter site noticed bloodstains along the retreat path of the insurgents.

The unidentified male insurgent had multiple gunshot wounds to the body while the female had gunshot wounds and a fractured hand.

Government forces also recovered personal belongings and cooking utensils.

As of press time, government forces were conducting clearing operations in the nearby areas of Barangay Kapitan Ramon.

https://www.panaynews.net/3-dead-in-gun-battle-between-army-npa/