BACOLOD CITY - Two men believed to be members of the New People’s Army (NPA) were killed in a clash with government troops in Barangay Carabalan, Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental on Saturday.
Brig. Gen. Inocencio Pasaporte, commander of 303rd Infantry Brigade (IBde), identified the fatalities as Arnold Sabanal and Jason Sabanal of Purok Lonoy, Sitio Cunalom, Barangay Carabalan.
Pasaporte said the 94th Infantry Battalion (IB) engaged the suspected NPA rebels in a brief firefight during pursuit operations on Saturday. The armies were in hot pursuit of the rebels following two clashes at Sitio Maliko-liko and Sitio Lonoy on Friday.
Recovered from the slain rebels were a .45 caliber pistol loaded with three ammunition, a medical kit, nine rounds of shotgun live ammunition, and subversive documents, according to the Army.
Last Thursday, the armies were conducting a Community Support Program (CSP) Sustainment Operation at Sitio Tigbao, when they received reports about the alleged presence of unidentified armed men in the area, and in the area of Sitio Lonoy. The rebels were allegedly extorting food supplies from some residents.
This prompted the 94th IB to conduct a combat operation which resulted in a firefight with about 30 suspected NPA rebels at the said sitios on Friday.
Pasaporte believed that these armed men were the same group which staged an ambush on some personnel of Binalbagan Municipal Police Station in Barangay Bi-ao last month that left two policemen wounded.
Pasaporte made the assumption based on the Army’s recovered weapons in the series of recent clashes with the rebels.
Last week, a soldier was wounded after engaging with suspected rebels in a firefight at Sitio Ulot, Barangay Buenavista.
Pasaporte maintained that the insurgency situation in the province is manageable, and that the recent clashes were not alarming.
Lt. Col. Van Donald Almonte, 94th IB commander, lauded the residents for giving timely information regarding the enemies’ hideouts.
He also warned the Communist Terrorist Groups (CTGs) on their alleged extortion activities and atrocities in the communities. “Surrender now before your time runs out,” Almonte said.