Philippine Army (PA) soldiers and suspected New People’s Army (NPA) rebels figured in a fierce clash in Leon, Iloilo on Tuesday, Sept. 12.
Lt. Col. J-Jay Javines, spokesperson of the 3rd Infantry Division (3ID), said personnel from the 61st Infantry Battalion (61IB) encountered around 12 alleged members of the NPA’s Southern Front of the Komiteng Rehiyon Panay under a certain Rebecca Alfaro alias “Jing”.
The troops were conducting security operations in Barangay Camandag in response to a tip-off from civilians about the presence of armed men conducting extortion activities in the area when they clashed with the rebels, Javines said.
The exchange of fire lasted for 10 minutes.
“There were no casualties on the government side but there is a possibility that NPAs were wounded as indicated by traces of bloodstains at the encounter site,” Javines said.
The troops seized anti-personnel mines, improvised explosive device (IED) paraphernalia, a laptop, medical equipment, personal belongings and documents at the encounter site.
Javines said the engagement marked the fifth time that the Army and NPA’s Southern Front of the Komiteng Rehiyon Panay faced each other in Leon this year.
Maj. Gen. Marion R. Sison, 3ID commander, called on the remaining members of the NPA in Iloilo to “return to the folds of the law and choose a peaceful life with their families and loved ones.”
“We will be relentless in achieving our mission to end the local armed conflict in Panay Island and the whole 3ID area of responsibility. There will be no let-up in our combat operations until every insurgent gives up their arms or faces dire consequences by opting to remain in the mountains,” Sison stated.