ILOILO CITY—A soldier of the 12th Infantry Battalion (12 IB) was wounded after a clash with New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in Capiz province Tuesday, July 21.
Captain Cenon Pancito III, spokesperson of the Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division (3ID), said the soldier was slightly wounded when government troops and NPA rebels exchanged fire in Barangay Tacayan in Tapaz town.
Government troops encountered 15 armed men while on their way to a local community to verify tips of the re-emerging presence of NPA rebels.
Pancito said the 12 IB has reason to believe that NPA rebels were also wounded based on the blood trail found at the encounter site.
The encounter came after a July 8 incident in the same village where NPA rebels fired indiscriminately at civilians while 12 IB troops were conducting community support program. A child was also slightly wounded.
Meanwhile, Pancito assured that the army hierarchy under the 301st Infantry Brigade (301 IB) will continue to take action on tips provided by communities not only in Capiz province, but other key areas of Panay Island.