2 Himamaylan encounters yield high powered guns, ammo

From the Visayan Daily Star (Oct 2, 2023): 2 Himamaylan encounters yield high powered guns, ammo (By GILBERT P. BAYORAN)

Two high powered guns and assorted ammunition were recovered by soldiers of the 94th Infantry Battalion, following two successive armed skirmishes with New People’s Army remnants in Sitio Bulasot, Brgy. Buenavista, Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental, on October 1.

The two encounters resulted in the recovery of two M653 assault rifles with six magazines containing ammunition, a link of 7.62 mm ammunition, a bandoleer, and two backpacks containing personal belongings and subversive documents, according to Capt. Eduardo Rarugal, 94th Infantry Battalion Civil Military Operations officer.

While no 94IB soldiers were hurt in the two armed skirmishes, pursuit operations were still ongoing, as of last night.

Lt. Col. J Jay Javines, Civil Military Operations chief of the 3rd Infantry Division, disclosed that the first encounter took place at about 8:15 a.m. yesterday, after 94th Infantry Battalion soldiers responded to reports on the presence of armed rebels in the area.

Javines said the firefight lasted about 10 minutes, after which the armed rebels withdrew to the northern portion of the encounter site.

An hour after, pursuing Army soldiers caught up with some rebels, which triggered another gun battle that lasted about five minutes, he added.

Lt. Col. Van Donald Almonte, 94IB commander, lauded the timely information of barangay residents, which he said led to the successful military operations against rebel remnants in central Negros.

Almonte said the help of villagers is a clear manifestation that the NPA remnants have lost their control over their mass base.

Last week, six suspected NPA rebels also died in an encounter with 47th Infantry Battalion soldiers in Sitio Lubi, Brgy. Tabugon, Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental.*

https://visayandailystar.com/2-himamaylan-encounters-yield-high-powered-guns-ammo/