By Nanette Guadalquiver | Philippine News Agency
A renewed clash between government troops and insurgents claimed the lives of six New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in Barangay Gatuslao, Candoni, Negros Occidental early Thursday, the Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division (3ID) has confirmed.
The identities of the six fatalities were not yet known.
Lt. Col. J-Jay Javines, 3ID spokesperson, said in an interview that the joint troops of the 47th and 15th Infantry Battalions engaged the remnants of the dismantled Southwestern Front of the NPA during the 40-minute gunbattle.
The encounter, which took place about 3:40 a.m. in Sitio Cogon, also led to the recovery of eight high-powered firearms, including five M-16 armalite rifles, 2 AK-47 rifles, and an M653 “baby” armalite.
No one among the soldiers was injured or killed, Javines said.
Col. Rainerio de Chavez, officer-in-charge of Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOCPPO), said personnel of the municipal police stations in Candoni and nearby Hinoba-an are currently assisting the military in clearing operations.
The Army is also coordinating with police personnel in the monitoring of the hospitals and health facilities, where wounded rebels might have been possibly brought for medical assistance, he added.
On May 3, 2022, a 16-year-old combatant of the Southwestern Front also died during a firefight between troops of the 15th Infantry Battalion and NPA rebels in Sitio Tigmaya, also in Brgy. Gatuslao.
The latest encounter took place days after 3ID Commander Maj. Gen. Marion Sison directed troops to sustain the momentum and intensify efforts against the remnants of the five dismantled guerrilla fronts in Negros Island.
Two of the dismantled guerilla fronts, namely the Southeastern and Southwestern Fronts, are within the area of operations (AOO) of the 302nd Infantry Brigade, while the three other dismantled fronts conducting their insurgency activities in the AOO of the the 303rd Infantry Brigade are the Northern Negros Front, Central Negros 1, and Central Negros 2.