Rebel killed in clash with govt troops

From the Manila Times (May 6, 2023): Rebel killed in clash with govt troops (By Eugene Y. Adiong)

BACOLOD CITY: A member of the New People's Army was killed while two soldiers and a civilian were wounded in a clash between communist rebels and government troops in the hinterlands of Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental on Wednesday afternoon.

The encounter, which took place in Sitio Paloypoy at 4:55 p.m., displaced 65 families in Barangay Buenavista. They sought shelter in the covered court and chapel of neighboring Barangay Hilamonan in Kabankalan City.

Brig. Gen. Orlando Edralin, commander of the 303rd Infantry Brigade, said on Thursday that soldiers of the 94th Infantry Battalion (94IB) engaged around 15 communist rebels in a 20-minute firefight.

The unidentified male fatality, whose body was brought to La Funeraria Soledad in Himamaylan City, is the latest casualty in the series of encounters in central and southern Negros since last month.

Lt. Col. Van Donald Almonte, commander of 94IB, said the two soldiers, who are being treated in a local hospital, are now in stable condition.

The resident who was hit by a stray bullet was also brought to a hospital, he added.

Almonte said his men recovered a high-powered firearm, ammunition for various firearms, personal belongings, and subversive documents.

On April 20, a communist rebel died while two soldiers of the 79IB were also wounded during an encounter at Barangay Binaguiohan and Libertad in Escalante City.

Earlier in the same day, troops of the 94IB encountered a group of NPA fighters at the boundary of Binalbagan and Isabela towns, which killed Rogelio Posadas, the top leader of the NPA's Komiteng Rehiyon-Negros, Cebu, Bohol, Siquijor.

On April 18, a firefight in Barangay Quintin Remo, Moises Padilla led to the death of Jose "Jojo" Albores, one of the leaders of the "kangaroo court" tasked to kill persons suspected to be against the NPA.

Officials in southern Negros Occidental immediately sent aid to the evacuees.

The Kabankalan City Social Welfare and Development Office handed out tents, medicines, and food packs to the affected families.

The office of Negros Occidental Sixth District Rep. Mercedes Alvarez also sent food packs.

https://www.manilatimes.net/2023/05/06/regions/rebel-killed-in-clash-with-govt-troops/1890129