BACOLOD CITY -- Two soldiers died while six others were wounded during a clash with suspected New People’s Army members in Barangay Carabalan, Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental on Saturday, Oct. 8.
The Philippine Army’s 303rd Infantry Brigade (IBde) has yet to provide the names of the two slain soldiers.
The clash was part of a series of encounters in the said village since Oct. 6 which left at least 700 residents fleeing for their safety.
The recent clash happened while the 94th Infantry Battalion (IB) was conducting a pursuit operation against fleeing armed rebels whom they encountered twice already in the village on Thursday.
According to the Army, the troops were maneuvering to assault the identified enemy position, when the enemies allegedly fired against them.
Close air support was employed to suppress the enemy fire and extricate the wounded troops, the Army said.
Successive delivery of air support forced the enemy to flee to different directions, the Army said.
The wounded soldiers are confined in a private hospital here.
Meanwhile, Brig. Gen. Inocencio Pasaporte, commander of the 303rd IBde, expressed his condolences to the families of the two fallen soldiers.
Pasaporte recognized the heroism and gallantry of the two fallen soldiers, who paid the ultimate sacrifice for peace and security of Himamaylan City and Negros island.
“Despite the loss of our heroic soldiers, the Army in Negros will remain steadfast in defending the peace against the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP)-NPA,” the 303rd IBde said.