Army, Reds clash anew in Leon

From Panay News (Sep 13, 2023): Army, Reds clash anew in Leon (By Ruby P. Silubrico)

ILOILO City – Philippine Army troops exchanged fire with the New People’s Army (NPA) in Barangay Camandag, Leon, Iloilo yesterday.

Personnel of the 61st Infant Battalion (61IB) were having an offensive operation and checked the information sent to them by concerned citizens, according to Brigadier General Michael Samson, commander of the Philippine Army’s 301st Infantry Brigade.

Samson said the exchange of fire erupted at 12:12 p.m. in a mountainous area near Antique province where the NPA’s Southern Front Committee under Rebecca Alfaro was operating.

Government troops recovered 12 backpacks with personal belongings at the encounter site.

“As of now, amo pa lang ina nga information na-gather kay bukid na gid ang area. Nabudlayan kita mag-contact sa aton sundalo. The firefight is still ongoing,” Samson told Panay News yesterday.

This was the fourth clash in Leon town this year.

On July 11, the 61IB encountered rebels under the Sibat Platoon, Southern Front, Komiteng Rehiyon (KR)-Panay in Barangay Camandag.

An AK-47 rifle, four smartphones, three analog cellphones, one tablet phone, seven backpacks, and subversive documents were recovered at the encounter site.

On July 29, the Army and rebels clashed again in Sitio Pagas, Barangay Ayabang. The rebels were under the group of John Eric “Blue” Talibo of Barangay Indaluyon, Igbaras town and Jennifer “Hope” Fariolan of Barangay Cabala-unan, Miag-ao town, the alleged squad leader and finance taxation implementer, respectively, of the Sibat Platoon, Southern Front, KR-Panay.

Government troops recovered an improvised M16 rifle, two shotguns, one .45 pistol, anti-personnel mines, six blasting caps, one detonating switch, one NPA flag, and four backpacks containing extortion letters and valuable subversive documents.

The first encounter, meanwhile, took place on June 5 in Sitio Talibong, Barangay Carara-an against the same rebel group.

The rebels fled after around six minutes of gun battle.

Among the recovered were a .45 pistol, various types of ammunition, a detonator for an anti-personnel mine, medical kits, and three hammocks, the Army said.

https://www.panaynews.net/army-reds-clash-anew-in-leon/