BACOLOD CITY – The Army 303rd Infantry Brigade (IBde) reported that 167 families or 765 individuals were evacuated following a series of clashes between the New People’s Army and the military in Barangay Carabalan, Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental on Friday, July 7.
Capt. Mervin Rosal, civil military operations officer of the 303rd IBde, said evacuees were temporarily sheltered at the barangay covered court and were allowed to return to their homes the following day Saturday, July 8.
The first firefight occurred while the 94th Infantry Battalion (IB) was conducting security patrol in response to information from a former NPA rebel that his former comrades were extorting food from residents of the barangay.
This was followed by two more encounters while troopers were pursuing the fleeing communist guerrillas.
Rosal said an NPA rebel was killed in one of the gun battles and is yet to be identified.