BACOLOD CITY – A 16-year old cadre serving as a medic for the New People’s Army was found dead along the route the fleeing rebels took following sporadic clashes in Barangay Gatuslao, Candoni, Negros Occidental on Tuesday, May 3.

Brig. General Leonardo Peña, commander of the Philippine Army’s 302nd Infantry Brigade, said the fatality was a resident of Cabadiangan, Sipalay City who was recruited to serve as medic of Squad 1, Sentro De Gabridad Platoon 2, as well as the Squad 2, Platoon 3 of South West Front (SWF).

Peña said that according to the fallen cadre’s family, the teenager was allegedly encouraged to join the armed struggle by his stepfather, who is also a member of the said group.

The soldiers were doing a clearing operation after a brief firefight at around 6:48 p.m. – the last of three faceoffs that Tuesday afternoon – when they found the body of the young cadre believed to be hit in the firefight but was abandoned by the fleeing rebels.

Peña expressed dismay over the rebels’ practice of recruiting even the youngsters to become their soldiers. Peña reiterated his call to parents to protect their children.

Earlier, the government soldiers clashed with the rebels at around 5:30 p.m. as units belonging to the 15th Infantry Battalion were chasing down the enemies. It was followed by another firefight with at least 15 unidentified armed rebels at around 5:48 p.m.

Peña said the clashes happened after the Army received information from a concerned resident of the barangay regarding the alleged presence of armed rebels conducting extortion activities in the town.

The soldiers at that time were doing the re-visitation of previously cleared barangay in preparation for the upcoming conduct of retooled community support program (RCSP) by the local government unit.

Recovered from the encounter site were an M16 rifle, a .45 caliber pistol, anti-personnel mine, five short aluminum magazines of 5.56mm caliber rifle, 40 rounds of 5.56 caliber rifle ammunition, four rounds of 7.62 caliber ammunition, two magazines of .45 caliber pistol, a round of 7.62mm (AK47) caliber ammunition, five rounds of .45 caliber ammunition, 22 empty shells of 5.56mm caliber ammunition, three kilos of ammonium nitrate composition, a cellular phone, a radio, gun sling, three backpacks, and subversive documents.

Meanwhile, a soldier suffered a minor injury on his left arm and is now in stable condition and recuperating in a hospital.

Peña said they will continue their relentless campaign to help and support the national government in its campaign to eradicate and totally end the five decades of menace and terroristic activities of the Communist NPA Terrorists in the country side.

He said the NPA rebels in the recent clash were believed to be part of the armed rebels who were also encountered by the 15th IB in Barangay Caliling, Cauayan town last month, which resulted in the death of one rebel.