BACOLOD CITY -- The Army's 94th Infantry Battalion (IB) prevented an alleged extortion attempt of the New People’s Army (NPA) members after they were engaged in two clashes at Sitio Malikolik, Barangay Carabalan, Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental on Friday.

According to the Army, the suspected rebels were earlier seen by the civilians in the area of Sitio Lonoy, Barangay Carabalan, and the area where the soldiers were conducting Community Support Program (CSP) Sustainment Operation at Sitio Tigbao in the same barangay.

The attack was prevented after the community informed the CSP team about the location of the enemies who were allegedly extorting food supplies from the residents in the area at that time.

What followed after that was an encounter which did not last long as the soldiers sent the rebels fleeing the area. However, another clash erupted as the government soldiers pursued the fleeing rebels.

The Army believed that there were casualties on the enemy side, while no soldier was harmed in the incident.

Recovered from the encounter site were a generator, two Improvised Explosive Device (IEDs) with fire, two rifle grenades, a bandolier with four magazines loaded with ammunition, three cellular phones, seven jungle packs, three short magazines of M16 loaded with ammunition, an empty long magazine of M16, rice, six Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP)-NPA flags, and other subversive documents with high intelligence value.

In his statement, Maj. Gen. Benedict Arevalo, commander of 3rd Infantry Division (ID), said the encounter was a strong indication that the Army in Central and Western Visayas is serious in their campaign against insurgency.

Arevalo said the encounter would significantly disrupt their extortion schemes and support system, adding that it will also serve as an eye-opener to all rebels who still refuse to surrender at a time when the government is offering programs for them to avail of.

Arevalo recognized the community’s effort in giving the troops timely and accurate information, and urged them to continue supporting the government’s peace campaign in ending local communist armed conflict in this part of the country.

Last week, a soldier was wounded after engaging in a clash with suspected rebels at Sitio Ulot, Barangay Buenavista.