ILOILO CITY — Classes in 16 rebel-infested mountainous villages of the municipality of Janiuay, Iloilo were temporarily suspended Monday following an encounter between government troops and communist rebels in one of the town’s barangays on Sunday (September 9, 2018).
Classes in elementary are suspended in Barangays Agcarope, Pararinga, Pangilihan, Monte Magapa, Cunsad, Aglobong, Panuran, Anhawan, Atimonan, Barasalon, Canauillan, Ubian and Yabon. Both elementary and secondary schools are suspended in Canauilli and Quipot.
In an interview Monday, Mayor Jose de Paula said the temporary suspension of classes would ensure the safety of teachers and students. He identified the 16 villages as rebel-infested areas because of sightings of rebels in the areas.
“There might be spillovers. During our consultation last night, the security forces have not yet cleared the area so our teachers and students might encounter these armed groups and harm them,” he said.
A consultation was immediately conducted Sunday night by the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council, the Janiuay Municipal Police Station and representatives from the various security sectors deployed in the town to assess the incident and lay down preemptive measures.
Initial report said a 15-minute firefight broke out around 3 p.m. Sunday at the village of Agcarope, as troops of the Philippine Army’s 61st Infantry Battalion (IB) encountered about 10 NPA rebels, identified as members of Baloy Platoon, Sangay Partido Pampropaganda, Central Front Committee, Komiteng Rehiyon Panay while they are patrolling at the area.
The latest encounter resulted in the death of Virgilio Loraña, 41, resident of Monte Magapa village and a member of a member of the Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit (CAFGU) based in Lambunao, Iloilo.
The militiaman was killed-in-action, Col. Benedict Arevalo, commander of the 301st Infantry Brigade, said.
Two individuals from the enemy side were also wounded, he added.
Recovered from the encounter site were two M16 rifles and an AK47 that were left behind when the NPA scampered during the gun battle.
Additional troops from the 33rd Division Reconnaissance Company were deployed using two helicopters of the Philippine Air Force for pursuit operations. The said encounter is the 9th clash since July 21.
The number of additional forces was not disclosed by Arevalo for security reasons.
Aside from the suspension of classes, de Paula said that they have also deployed some five ambulances and rescue vehicles in the rebel-infested villages and these are on-standby 24/7 so they could immediately respond to emergencies.
Despite the incident, de Paula assured that the entire town is secured by government forces.
Another meeting will be conducted within the day to assess the situation in the rebel-infested villages and decide whether or not they should resume classes Tuesday (Sept. 11, 2018), he said. (Cindy Ferrer/PNA)
