Army discovers NPA camp, clashes with NPA

By: Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – The local military troopers engaged in a 30-minute fire fight with suspected New People’s Army (NPA) at Sitio Bugo, Barangay Buenavista, Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental early Sunday, following the discovery of a rebel encampment in a nearby sitio at the said village last Saturday.

The 31st Division Reconnaissance Company (DRC) under the Army’s 62nd Infantry Battalion (IB) was conducting combat operations when they encountered 15 armed men at the said village around 5:20 a.m. yesterday.

The Army reported two casualties on the rebels’ side based on the testimonies of some residents in the village and bloodstains left on the enemy’s trail. But authorities have yet to provide the identities of the two alleged slain rebels.

Authorities recovered from the site 45 rounds of ammunition for M16 rifle, wires for anti-personnel mine, a backpack, hammock, poncho, medical kit, medicines, two sweatshirts, a wallet, three pairs of rain boots, four pairs of rubber shoes, and a pair of slippers.

No soldiers were harmed in the clash.

Early this year, a rebel camp which can accommodate 20 persons was also seized by the Army last January.

This is the third encounter at the said village and the 15th armed clash of soldiers under the 303rd Infantry Brigade (IBde) against the NPAs this year.

Last August, a soldier was killed while his two other comrades were wounded in a clash between the 62nd IB and NPA at Sitio Boyuron at the said village.