Hundreds of Negros town villagers displaced by AFP-NPA encounters

From the Manila Bulletin (May 21, 2023): Hundreds of Negros town villagers displaced by AFP-NPA encounters (By GLAZYL MASCULINO)

BACOLOD CITY – Several families left their homes after a series of clashes between the New People’s Army and government forces erupted in Barangay Quintin Remo, Moises Padilla, Negros Occidental on Saturday, May 20.



THE Army holds a dialogue with several residents of Barangay Quintin Remo, Moises Padilla, Negros Occidental, after they were displaced by a series of clashes that resulted in the death of five NPA rebels on Saturday, May 20. (Photo courtesy of 62nd IB)

According to Capt. Melvin Rosal, civil-military operations officer of the Philippine Army 303rd Infantry Brigade (IBde), 212 families composed of 819 individuals were evacuated for security reasons.

The clashes that happened in Sitios Napiluan and Oway-Oway resulted in the death of five NPA rebels.

Troops belonging to the 62nd Infantry Battalion (IB) were conducting combat operations in response to information regarding alleged planned atrocities of the NPA rebels in the towns of Moises Padilla and La Castellana when the encounter transpired.

The 62nd IB, in collaboration with Moises Padilla Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (MPTF-ELCAC), Department of Social Welfare and Development, and Moises Padilla Municipal Police Station conducted localized peace engagement with residents of Barangay Quintin Remo to enlighten them about the NPA atrocities and other activities.

They were also encouraged to help the NPA rebels, especially those wounded personalities, to voluntarily surrender to be given proper medical treatment, and avail of the benefits of the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP), and other programs from National Task Force-ELCAC.

The evacuees were provided with food packs by the DSWD and were given the go-signal the following day to return to their homes after the affected areas were cleared by the Army.

https://mb.com.ph/2023/5/21/hundreds-of-negros-town-villagers-displaced-by-afp-npa-encounters