Military, cops clash with rebels in Himamaylan

By: Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – The Army’s 62nd Infantry Battalion (IB) and the Regional Mobile Force Battalion (RMFB)-6 of the Philippine National Police (PNP) traded shots with suspected New People’s Army (NPA) members at Barangay Caradio-an, Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental Sunday night.

The firefight happened after military troopers also clashed with the NPA at Barangay Cansalungon, Isabela town two days ago, which resulted in the death of a suspected member of Special Partisan Unit (Sparu) and arrest of seven others, who were alleged NPA supporters, including their injured comrade.

The gun battle in the city which occurred around 11:20 p.m. lasted for 10 minutes.

No injuries were reported on the government side but authorities believed that the enemies suffered casualties based on the bloodstains left on the trail.

Recovered from the site were 23 rounds of 7.62 ammunition for AK47 rifle, an AK47 magazine assembly, a shirt printed with Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) logo, and other personal belongings.

This is the second engagement of the military against the NPA during continuous pursuit operations, following the harassment against the family of Tinongan village chief Eugene Zambrona in Isabela town last Thursday.

Lieutenant Colonel Egberto Dacoscos, 62nd IB commander, said “this is a clear sign of their downfall.”