By Glazyl Y. Masculino
BACOLOD City – Three soldiers were killed while four others were wounded when troopers from the Army’s 94th Infantry Battalion (IB) clashed with suspected New People’s Army (NPA) at Barangay Carabalan, Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental on Sunday morning.
Two of the three casualties died on the spot while the other expired while being evacuated from the encounter site.
The Army withheld the names of all the victims as their families have yet to be informed.
Colonel Inocencio Pasaporte, commander of 303rd Infantry Brigade (IBde), said that, “we express our deepest sympathy to the families of our hero-soldiers who died fighting for the peace in Negros island.”
The encounter occurred when the soldiers, who were conducting community security patrol amid the distribution of Social Amelioration Program (SAP) of Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to support the families affected by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, received reports regarding the presence of an armed group allegedly extorting rice and money from the people.
Pasaporte said the soldiers were closing in on the NPA when an improvised explosive device (IED) exploded and hand grenades were thrown at them.
A 30-minute firefight ensued after the explosion.
Military choppers were sent to evacuate the wounded soldiers who are now recuperating in a hospital here. They are all in stable condition.
Pasaporte said the rebels were also reportedly seen dragging their dead and wounded comrades.
He said the Army will heighten its operations to capture the NPA and stop them from sowing fear in the communities.
