By Glazyl Y. Masculino
BACOLOD CITY—The death toll in recent clashes in Barangay Gatuslao, Candoni, Negros Occidental, has risen to eight after another suspected New People’s Army (NPA) rebel was killed during a firefight on Friday at Sitio Soso.
Brig. Gen. Joey Escanillas, commander of the Army’s 302nd Infantry Brigade, said the 15th Infantry Battalion (IB) neutralized the suspected rebel, a remnant of the dismantled Southwest Front, Komiteng Rehiyon – Negros Cebu Bohol Siquijor (SWF KR-NCBS), during pursuit operations.
This operation followed an earlier encounter on Thursday that left seven suspected NPA rebels dead in the same village.
The latest firefight lasted eight minutes, with no reported casualties on the government side.
Troops recovered a .45 caliber pistol, two improvised explosive devices (IEDs), two commercial radios, a bandolier, 16 backpacks, and subversive documents.
The municipal government facilitated the burial of the eighth casualty, according to Police Major Nelson Amsiwen Jr., chief of Candoni police.
Lt. Col. Brian Bagaipo, acting commander of the 15th IB, praised the swift action of his troops and the cooperation of the community, describing the mission as a significant blow to the NPA’s operations.
“Security is a shared responsibility,” Bagaipo said, noting that community vigilance plays a crucial role in ending decades-long internal conflict.
In a separate incident, another encounter occurred Sunday morning in the neighboring town of Hinoba-an, Escanillas reported.
The skirmish, which began at 6 a.m. during a patrol operation, prompted the deployment of close air support due to the mountainous terrain.
No casualties were reported on either side, and no civilians were affected, according to Escanillas.
Troops discovered an abandoned NPA hideout in Hinoba-an that could accommodate 15 to 20 individuals.
Escanillas said the hideout may have been used by SWF remnants before the recent clashes. Clearing operations in the area are ongoing.
Suspected Militiaman Arrested
In a separate operation, police arrested a 29-year-old laborer suspected of being a militiaman during a raid at Sitio Maglantay, Barangay Caradio-an, Himamaylan City, on Saturday.
A search warrant for illegal possession of firearms and ammunition was executed at the suspect’s residence.
Police Lt. Col. Anthony Grande, Himamaylan police chief, said authorities are still investigating the suspect’s possible links to the NPA.
The raid was prompted by previous complaints against the suspect, though Grande did not disclose further details.
Police recovered an improvised pistol-type 12-gauge shotgun and two live rounds of 12-gauge ammunition.
Charges for illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition were filed against the suspect on Sunday.
