Army clashes again with NPA rebels thrice

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – Three more encounters between the military troopers and suspected New People’s Army (NPA) were reported on Wednesday and Thursday in Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental, and Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental.

Brigadier General Inocencio Pasaporte, commander of the 303rd Infantry Brigade (IBde), said troopers of the 94th Infantry Battalion (IB) involved in the Wednesday clash in Himamaylan City, particularly in Carabalan village, encountered rebels who were fleeing from the series of armed encounters in the said village since Oct. 6, 2022.

Later that day, the 62nd IB also encountered members of the Central Negros 1 – Komiteng Rehiyon Negros Cebu Bohol Siquijor (CN1 KR-NCBS) at Sitio Mansalukon, Barangay Calupaan, Guihulngan City.

Pasaporte said the troopers prevented the alleged attack and extortion activities in the said village.

The Army believed that the NPA suffered one casualty based on the bloodstains visible in the area. No injuries were reported on the government side.

The following day, another clash occurred in Barangay Trinidad, Guihulngan City, wherein troopers seized some war materiel and a firearm.

This is already the eighth encounter under the 303rd IBde this month.

Pasaporte denied the allegation of the NPA that one soldier was killed in a gun attack in Vallehermoso, Negros Oriental last Wednesday, following the death of Romeo Nanta, an alleged NPA top leader who was killed in a clash with the 94th IB in Barangay Carabalan on Oct. 10.

He said it was not true and it was just the NPA’s way to uplift their morale after their leader’s death. “Kung may casualty kami gina report namon, ngaa taguon man namon?” he asked.

Pasaporte commended the efforts and selfless dedication to service of the military troopers.

“We know that you are always prepared and ready to protect the Negrense against threat groups that endanger the well-being of the people in Central Negros,” Pasaporte said in a statement.