Civilians hailed for support as soldiers, rebels clash

From the Panay News (Sep 11): Civilians hailed for support as soldiers, rebels clash

NPA takes hostage and kills Cafgu member



Soldiers of the Philippine Army’s 61st Infantry Battalion patrol Barangay Lampaya, Leon, Iloilo. The Army is gaining the trust and confidence of the community, says Colonel Benedict Arevalo of the 301st Infantry Brigade. IAN PAUL CORDERO/PN

ILOILO – The Philippine Army thanked civilians for alerting it about the rebels’ presence in the hinterland barangay of Agcarope, Janiuay town.

Government troops and rebels in Panay Island clashed anew on Sunday, their third encounter in four days. A Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit (Cafgu) Active Auxiliary member held hostage by the rebels died.

“We are gaining the trust and confidence of the community. We are thankful that they are cooperative,” said Colonel Benedict Arevalo of the 301st Infantry Brigade.

The slain Cafgu member was 41-year-old Virgilio Loraña of Barangay Monte-Magapa, Janiuay. He was stabbed and shot, said Major General Dinoh Dolina, commander of the 3rd Infantry Division.

The rebels belonged to the Baloy Platoon, Sangay Partido Pampropaganda, Central Front Committee, New People’s Army (NPA) Panay.

“We are extending our condolences to the family of Loraña. We have to give financial assistance to his family,” said Dolina.

Sunday’s 15-minute encounter happened after two separate clashes on Sept. 6 in Leon, Iloilo and Maayon, Capiz.

The Janiuay encounter was between the Philippine Army’s 61st Infantry Battalion (61IB) and some 10 New People’s Army (NPA) rebels.

According to Arevalo, the firefight happened at around 3 p.m.

Government troops successfully repelled the rebels, he said, and recovered two M16 armalite rifles and one AK47 rifle.

“They retreated after sensing they were being overpowered,” said Arevalo.
Government troops may have wounded at least two rebels. Residents claimed seeing the rebels assisting wounded companions while they were retreating.

On Sept. 6, a 15-minute firefight erupted around 4:50 a.m. between 10 soldiers of the 61IB and about the same number of insurgents in Barangay Malublub, Leon.

“The enemies eventually retreated. We were on an offensive operation. There were no deaths or injuries on our side,” said Lieutenant Colonel Sisenando Magbalo of the 61IB.

The battalion received information that armed men of the NPA’s Southern Front Committee were in Barangay Malublub so it deployed soldiers there.

Some 11 hours after the Leon clash, soldiers of the 61IB exchanged fire with another band of rebels in barangays Bongbongan and Guinbi-alan, Maayon, Capiz.

There were no reported injuries or casualties on the government side.

Just this Aug. 24 troops of the Iloilo Police Provincial Office’s 1st Provincial Mobile Force Company were on patrol when some 20 rebels set off a command-detonated landmine and started firing at the policemen in Barangay Isian Victoria, Leon. Three policemen were injured.

It was believed to be a retaliatory attacked by the rebels after losing seven comrades to the police and military in Barangay Atabay, San Jose, Antique on Aug. 15.

https://www.panaynews.net/civilians-hailed-for-support-as-soldiers-rebels-clash/