BACOLOD CITY – Two members of the New People’s Army (NPA) were killed in an encounter in Sitio Nabalas Dos, Barangay Canlusong, E.B. Magalona, Negros Occidental on Tuesday, October 17.
SEAL of the municipality of E.B. Magalona, Negros Occidental.
The Army has yet to identify the slain rebels.
A report from the Army 3rd Infantry Division (ID) said the encounter broke out when troops of the 79th Infantry Battalion (IB) responded to reports from civilians about the presence of at least nine remnants of the dismantled Northern Negros Front, Komiteng Rehiyon-Negros, Cebu, Bohol, Siquijor, conducting extortion activities in the area.
No casualties were reported on the government side during the 15-minute firefight.
Troops recovered from the encounter site high-powered firearms, including two M16 rifles, an M14 rifle, and assorted bandoliers.
Various war materials, including an AR15 rifle, an M16 rifle, a Garand rifle, four rifle grenades, assorted live ammunition, personal belongings, and subversive documents with high intelligence value, were also recovered the following day.
Pursuit and clearing operation in the immediate vicinity of the encounter site is ongoing.
Barangay Canlusong is an insurgency-cleared barangay and a recipient of the Local Government Support Fund-Support to Barangay Development Program (SBDP) projects, according to the 3rd ID.
In February 2019, some residents in Barangay Canlusong were among the 80 former members and mass supporters of the NPA who pledged loyalty to the government in Victorias City, Negros Occidental, the 3rd ID said.
The barangay also declared the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP)-NPA-National Democratic Front (NDF) as persona non grata through a barangay resolution in 2020.
Major Gen. Marion Sison, 3rd ID commander, said the NPA’s attempt to regain their influence in Barangay Canlusong failed because the residents themselves rejected them.
“They no longer want the NPA manipulating the people in their communities. Clearly, the people have already chosen to live in peace and made a stand to end local armed conflict,” he added.