ILOILO CITY – The 12th Infantry Battalion (IB) of the Philippine Army thwarted the New People’s Army’s bid to infiltrate an Aklan province that has long been declared insurgency free.
ITEMS recovered after NPA rebels clashed with the Army in Libacao town, Aklan province.  (12th IB)

The rebels – about 10 in number – reemerged on Sunday, May 14, and tried to attack the civilians in Labacao town, but the government forces were there to deny them. The 12th IB troops and the NPA rebels exchanged fire at Sitio Inuran, Dalagsaan village before the rebels withdrew. No one was hurt from the government side, but there may have been wounded on the side of the NPA as bloodstains were found on their withdrawal routes. The military recovered a caliber .45 pistol with magazine and several rounds of ammunition, a commercial radio, a backpack, an NPA flag, mobile phones, and tablets in the encounter site. The hierarchy of the 3rd Infantry Division (ID) lauded the local residents for giving information of extortion activities in the area. “The strong level of alertness displayed by the residents of Dalagsaan in Libacao is all we need in sustaining peace and progress in Western and Central Visayas,” said Major Gen. Marion Sison, commanding general of the 3rd ID. “We are grateful that Aklanons maintain a sense of responsibility for protecting their peaceful communities,” added Sison. With the sustained campaign of the government troops in the area, peace and order remained in Aklan which was declared insurgency-free in December 2011.