Some 270 individuals from the villages of Bahian and Pal-iw in
Lt. Col. Harold Anthony Pascua, commander of the 79th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army, confirmed that these individuals had left their homes to seek safer ground on Saturday after one platoon of 79th IB soldiers led by 1Lt. Julambre Haber clashed with some 15 NPA members at Sitio Pag-inuman in Barangay Bahian.
The soldiers were on combat patrol around 1:30 p.m. Saturday when they chance upon the armed group with whom they exchanged gunfire for about 45 minutes. A running gun battle followed as the soldiers pursued the suspected rebels who left behind one M-16 armalite rifle and some personal belongings, said Lt. Col. Pascua.
Pascua said his men were acting to text messages and information from concerned citizens who said they sighted in the vicinity of their sub-village unidentified armed men wielding high-powered firearms and asking for food.
Residents in the area fled to avoid being caught in the crossfire and spent the night at the barangay halls of Pal-iw and Bahian, Lt. Col. Pascua confirmed.
Gov. Roel Degamo, after learning of the evacuation, sent rice to the residents who, on Sunday morning, voluntarily returned to their homes after the fighting had subsided.
Lt. Col. Pascua assured that no civilians were injured or abused while there were no collateral damages during the encounter between government troops and rebel forces.
Two UH-1H helicopter gunships deployed Sunday morning to for troop insertion and delivery of supplies in the mountainous areas of Tanjay City as soldiers continue with their pursuit operations against the NPA rebels.
Pascua revealed that his battalion has intensified combat operations against the NPA as the military is beating a deadline to clear the
The Army battalion commander appealed to the “remnants” of the NPA to lay down their arms and return peacefully to the folds of the law as he reiterated his previous warning of relentless operations against the rebels.
Lt. Col. Pascua has assured that the military is in constant communication with the village officials to ensure that civilians’ rights are not violated.
“We will ensure that the rules of engagement are properly observed by our troops in the area”, Pascua said.
Meanwhile, a would-be NPA surrenderee was stabbed dead by a “mentally-ill” neighbor prior to his scheduled surrender to government authorities.
A certain Nomer Senda, 28 years old, a resident of Barangay Apoloy in Siaton, Negros Oriental, was stabbed on his neck by a certain Artemio Macatiguib causing his instantaneous death Saturday, said Lt. Col. Pascua.
A police report reaching the Philippine Army showed that Senda and Macatiguig were both staying at the house of a certain Enriquita Manugas in Sitio Olong-olong, Barangay Apoloy, when the stabbing incident happened.
The perpetrator is believed to be suffering from lucid intervals and mental illness. He voluntarily surrendered to Army troops stationed at the detachment in Sitio Quadra, Barangay Mantiquil in Siaton.
According to the 79th IB periodic situation report, the victim is a member of squad 3, Sentro De Grabidad Platoon, South East Front Komiteng Rehiyon- Negros of the New People’s Army (NPA) known as @Russel/Borneo.
He was planning to surrender this week via Governor Roel Degamo and was a prospective beneficiary of the Comprehensive Local Integration Program (CLIP) which is offered by the local government of Negros Oriental, Lt. Col. Pascua disclosed.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=623719
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