834 PERSONS EVACUATED: Two soldiers killed as Army foils NPA attack

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – Two soldiers were dead while four others were wounded after the

Philippine Army encountered suspected New People’s Army (NPA) at Sitio Tiyos, Barangay Quintin Remo, Moises Padilla, Negros Occidental last Wednesday.

The Army, however, did not reveal the names of the casualties as of this writing.

Captain Kim Apitong, officer-in-charge of Division Public Affairs Office (DPAO) of 3rd Infantry Division (ID), said the personnel of the 62nd Infantry Battalion (IB) and 79th IB engaged in a firefight with about 25 NPA rebels when they responded to reports about the alleged extortion scheme in the area.

Prior to the encounter, Apitong said the NPA allegedly planned to attack the farm to market road project in Barangay Trinidad, Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental, which is situated at the boundary of the occidental and oriental side.

The project is already 90 percent completed and is being guarded by soldiers to prevent any attack and extortion activity from the NPA, he added.

The firefight lasted for about an hour, leaving six casualties from the 79th IB, who were immediately airlifted from the scene. Apitong said the wounded soldiers were already stable.

An hour later, the soldiers engaged in another firefight with the NPA rebels at the said area which resulted in the recovery of ammunition, cellular phones, supplies, and other personal belongings.

The Army believed the NPA also suffered casualties after they were reportedly seen dragging their four killed or severely wounded comrades from the encounter site, bloodstains were also seen at their withdrawal route.

Major General Benedict Arevalo, commander of 3rd Infantry Division (ID), in a statement, said the Army will not allow the Communist Party of the Philippines – New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) terrorists to stage atrocities and conduct their extortion scheme in Western Visayas.

“As he directed the military troopers to conduct relentless military operations against these terrorists, Arevalo also encouraged all Negrenses to join the fight against this terrorist group by continuously providing information about their plans and activities.

EVACUATION

Meanwhile, Mayor Ella Celestina Garcia-Yulo said that 145 families composed of 834 individuals were evacuated from the said village to various evacuation centers for their safety.

100 were taken to Nacuruhan Elementary School, 29 to Binataan Elementary School, 13 to Oway-Oway Church, and 3 to Santos-Santos Center.

The mayor said they are waiting for the clearance from the Army if these evacuees can already return to their respective houses.

She added that food packs and other necessities were already provided by the local government to the affected residents.