By Glazyl Masculino
BACOLOD CITY - Three soldiers were killed, while four others were wounded, when troops of the Army’s 94th Infantry Battalion (IB) encountered suspected New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in Barangay Carabalan, Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental on Sunday.
Military and rescuers cover the body of one of the three soldier-casualties transported via a military chopper at Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (Nocppo) headquarters in Bacolod City Sunday, following a clash with suspected New People’s Army (NPA) at Barangay Carabalan, Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental. (Contributed Photo via Glazyl Masculino / MANILA BULLETIN)
Authorities withheld the names of the victims pending notification of their next of kin.
Col. Inocencio Pasaporte, commander of 303rd Infantry Brigade (IBde), said the soldiers received a series of reports about the presence of an armed group in Barangay Carabalan, allegedly extorting rice and money from the people.
The troops were in the area to provide security during the distribution of Social Amelioration Program (SAP) benefits of Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to support the families affected by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
Pasaporte said the soldiers were close to accosting the NPAs when an improvised explosive device (IED) suddenly exploded, and hand grenades were thrown at them, inflicting immediate casualties among the government forces.
A 30-minute firefight ensued after the explosion before the rebels were seen dragging their dead and wounded comrades while making their retreat.
Military choppers were sent to evacuate the wounded soldiers who are now recuperating in a hospital here. They are all in stable condition.
He expressed his deepest sympathies to the families of “our hero-soldiers who died fighting for the peace in Negros island.”
He said the Army will heighten its operations to capture the NPA rebels responsible for the attack, and stop them from sowing fear in the communities.