Body of slain NPA fighter claimed, another wounded in Negros

From the Philippine News Agency (Dec 7, 2023): Body of slain NPA fighter claimed, another wounded in Negros (By Nanette Guadalquiver)

RECOVERED. Troops of the Philippine Army’s 94th Infantry Battalion seize an M16 rifle with long and short magazines, as well as personal belongings, after a clash with New People’s Army rebels in Barangay Buenavista, Himamaylan City Thursday morning (Dec. 7, 2023). It is the second gun battle in central Negros since Wednesday after 62nd Infantry Battalion soldiers clashed with a group of NPA fighters, resulting in the death of one of the rebels. (Photo courtesy of 3rd Infantry Division, Philippine Army)

BACOLOD CITY – The family of the slain New People’s Army (NPA) fighter in Negros Occidental claimed his body on Thursday, a day after he and his comrades encountered troops of the Philippine Army’s 62nd Infantry Battalion (IB) in Barangay Amontay, Binalbagan town.

The 62IB identified the fatality as Braulio “Bruno” Tobalado, a member of Central Negros Front 1, as confirmed by a former comrade who has surrendered and is now a peace advocate of the Army.

After the Binalbagan encounter, troops of the 94th Infantry Battalion also clashed with a group of NPA fighters from Central Negros Front 2 on Thursday morning, which wounded one of the rebels in the adjacent Barangay Buenavista, Himamaylan City.

Soldiers saw the fleeing rebels drag their wounded comrade, according to a report from the 3rd Infantry Division (ID).

In a statement, Maj. Gen. Marion Sison, 3ID commander, acknowledged the vigilance of the locals in providing information to the soldiers, who responded quickly and thwarted the extortion activities of the NPA.

“This once again proves that when government forces and the people unite and work together, it becomes easier to suppress the terroristic actions of the communist-terrorist group,” he added.

After the skirmish on Wednesday, 62IB troops recovered a Garand rifle and a caliber .45 pistol, while on Thursday, soldiers of 94IB found an M16 rifle with long and short magazines.

(https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1215043