Army denies NPA’s claim on soldiers’ deaths in Toboso clash

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – The Roselyn Jean Pelle Command – Northern Negros Guerilla Front of the New People’s Army (RJPC-NPA) claimed that at least three soldiers were killed while several others were wounded in a clash with the 79th Infantry Battalion (IB) at Sitio Seraje, Barangay San Isidro, Toboso, Negros Occidental on April 6.

In a statement dated April 10, Cecil Estrella, RJPC-NPA spokesperson, said that the NPA’s counter-offensive action was a result of the massive military campaign of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in northern Negros.

The rebel group said that the actual armed combat happened when the 79th IB was at rest and caught off guard by the NPA unit positioned less than 100 meters away.

The group also slammed the Army for the recovery of war materiel, saying that the 79th IB should expose the shells used to attack the NPA armory.

The Army earlier reported that military troopers responded to a report regarding the alleged extortion and recovery efforts of the remnants of Northern Negros Front (NNF) in the northern part of the province when a firefight ensued between them.

One soldier was wounded in the clash and is now in stable condition, according to Captain Mervin Rosal, civil military operations officer of 303rd IBde.

Rosal also noted that the claims of the NPA pertaining to the Toboso clash were expected as part of their propaganda.

He, however, did not elaborate or comment further.

With the latest development, the RJPC-NPA said that it is optimistic about the course of the armed revolution in northern Negros.