Armed encounters displaces civilians in northern Negros

From the Visayan Daily Star (Feb 24, 2024): Armed encounters displaces civilians in northern Negros (By GILBERT P. BAYORAN)

About 1,000 individuals were temporarily displaced by a series of encounters between New People’s Army rebels and Army soldiers on Wednesday and Thursday in Brgy. Pinapugasan, Escalante City, Negros Occidental.

Of the displaced individuals, more or less 500 were reported by the Philippine Army to be in the hinterland sitios of Brgy. Pinapugasan, Escalante City, while Councilor Richard Jaojoco reported that 101 families, composed of 491 individuals, also fled from their homes in the sitios of Mainit, Mansulao, Mag-aso, Danao, and Balod, all in Brgy. San Isidro, Toboso.

Army soldiers and fleeing remnants of the dismantled Northern Negros Front have engaged in armed skirmishes eight times already starting from Wednesday, up to Thursday night.

An airstrike was launched Thursday night by the Philippine Air Force against a suspected rebel stronghold in Brgy. Pinapugasan, Escalante City, using its newly acquired Agusta attack helicopters, which lasted 45 minutes, according to Lt. Col. J Jay Javines, 3rd Infantry Division spokesman.

Before the airstrike, Javines said a risk assessment was conducted to ensure that no residents or their livestock may be caught in the crossfire.

Jaojoco said he expects an increase in the number of evacuees, as he got reports of more affected residents now temporarily staying at a daycare center in the hinterland barangay of Magticol, also in Toboso.

Classes have been suspended since Thursday in all nine barangays, of which six are hinterland villages of Toboso, as ordered by Mayor Madonna Jaojoco.

The series of armed encounters claimed the lives of three suspected NPA rebels, and caused injuries to three Army soldiers and a government militiaman.

Recovered from the first encounter site, aside from the cadavers of the three suspected NPA rebels, were an AK 47 assault rifle, an M653 automatic rifle, a .45 caliber pistol, three rifle grenades, an anti-personnel mine, assorted cellular phones and commercial radios, combat backpacks, bandoleers, and subversive documents.

Councilor Jaojoco said there is no clearance yet from the Philippine Army for affected residents to return to their respective homes, as clearing operations are still ongoing.*

https://visayandailystar.com/armed-encounters-displaces-civilians-in-northern-negros/