ILOILO CITY—The 3rd Infantry Division (ID) of the Philippine Army has identified the two soldiers killed in a series of encounters with the New People’s Army (NPA) in Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental province since Oct. 6.

The fatalities were Corporals Christian P. Drilon and Rex G. Verde of the 94th Infantry Battalion (IB).
“They paid the high price for us to continue living in harmony. Their ultimate sacrifice will be our motivation to pursue genuine peace and progress in Negros Island at all costs,” said Major Gen. Benedict Arevalo, 3rd ID commander.
Drilon was a native of San Enrique town, Iloilo province while Verde was from Guimaras province.
Six other soldiers were injured in the encounters.
The Army believes that several NPA rebels might have died in the gunbattles based on the heavy bloodstains in the encounter site in Barangay Carabalan, Himamaylan City.
The 303rd Infantry Brigade (IBde), the main unit of the 94th IB, confirmed that a clash occurred again Monday afternoon, Oct. 10.
“This is the fifth encounter of 94th IB with the communist terrorist group,” the 303rd IB said in a statement.