Army clears three Himamaylan sitios from rebel threat

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – The Army’s 303rd Infantry Brigade (IBde) has allowed the remaining evacuees from three uncleared sitios in Barangay Carabalan, Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental to return to their houses yesterday.

This, after Brigadier General Inocencio Pasaporte, 303rd IBde commander, said that the military has recently cleared Sitios Sig-ang, Medel, and Campayas, from insurgency threats.

It can be recalled that the first clash between the 94th Infantry Battalion (IB) and the New People’s Army (NPA) erupted in Sitio Sig-ang on Oct. 6.

It was followed by a series of clashes at the same sitio which killed two soldiers and wounded six others on Oct. 8, and at Sitio Medel, which killed an NPA top leader on Oct. 10.

A portion of Sitio Campayas was affected as this area is near the two other sitios.

The series of armed encounters in the said village lasted for a week until Oct. 12, which displaced thousands of residents.

Affected residents started returning to their houses last weekend, while less than 300 remaining evacuees from these sitios have moved out of the evacuation centers yesterday.

The local government also posted the same public advisory on their social media account.

The city government prepared food packs, and other items, as well as medicines for the affected residents. They were also transported back to their houses and were provided with medical consultation.

Mayor Raymund Tongson Jr. thanked everyone for their support, cooperation, and assistance provided to the city government and the affected residents.

Meanwhile, Pasaporte assured the residents that the military will continue to provide them security.