BACOLOD CITY – The Army 79th Infantry Battalion (IB) overran a New People’s Army (NPA) hideout in Sitio Tinibyangan, Barangay Minapasuk, Calatrava, Negros Occidental, Wednesday, June 22.
Brig. Gen. Inocencio Pasaporte, 303rd Infantry Brigade (IBde) commander, said troops chanced upon about 10 unidentified armed men believed to be NPAs while they were conducting security patrol following reports of alleged extortion and recruitment activities in the area.
Pasaporte said that these armed men were believed to be remnants of the dismantled Northern Negros Front who probably wanted to recover the area.
A firefight lasting for about 15 minutes followed. Recovered after the encounter were personal belongings, medical paraphernalia, and subversive documents.
No casualty was reported on the government side. The Army believes that there were casualties from the enemy side based on the bloodstains found on their route of withdrawal.
Prior to the encounter, several encampments were found in the barangay, according to the Army.
Pasaporte said the ever-increasing support from communities and local government units is a clear message to the group that they are unwanted in the area.