BACOLOD CITY — The Philippine Army lost two soldiers and suffered four more casualties following an encounter with suspected New People’s Army (NPA) rebels at Sitio Tiyos, Barangay Quintin Remo in Moises Padilla, Negros Occidental on Wednesday, November 3.

The Army, however, did not reveal the names of the victims as of this writing.

Capt. Kim Apitong, officerin-charge of Division Public Affairs Office (DPAO) of 3rd Infantry Division (ID), said the first encounter happened when personnel of the 62nd Infantry Battalion (IB) and 79th IB responded to reports about the alleged plan of the enemies to stage an attack and the reported extortion scheme in the area.

The Army was able to determine the position of the enemies and clashed with about 25 NPA rebels, Apitong said. The firefight lasted for about an hour.

Apitong said the two slain soldiers and the four wounded soldiers from the 79th IB were immediately airli ed from the scene.

He said the wounded soldiers were already on stable condition.

The Army believed the NPA also suffered major loses a er they were reportedly seen dragging their killed or severely wounded comrades from the encounter site, as bloodstains were also seen along their withdrawal route.

An hour later, the soldiers again engaged in a firefight with NPA rebels at the said area which resulted in the recovery of ammunition, cellular phones, supplies, and other personal belongings.

Prior to the encounter, Apitong said the NPA reportedly planned to attack the farm -to-market road project in Barangay Trinidad, Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental, which is situated at the boundary of the occidental and oriental side.