By Glazyl Y. Masculino
BACOLOD CITY – The death toll from Thursday’s clash between military troops and suspected New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in Barangay Gatuslao, Candoni, Negros Occidental has risen to seven.
Police Major Nelson Amsiwen Jr., chief of the Candoni police, said the seventh fatality was discovered wounded during a clearing operation using military tracker dogs.
Soldiers administered first aid at the site, but the individual did not survive while being transported to the hospital, Amsiwen said.
Of the seven casualties, the first identified was Jonel Anicito, 29, a resident of Kabankalan City, whose remains have been claimed by his family, according to Lt. Col. J-jay Javines, spokesperson of the Army’s 3rd Infantry Division (ID).
The remaining six fatalities, whose bodies were decomposing and remained unidentified, were buried in a public cemetery on Friday, facilitated by the municipal government.
The clash occurred early Thursday morning when troops from the 47th Infantry Battalion (IB) and 15th IB responded to reports of an armed group allegedly involved in extortion and other illegal activities in the area.
Recovered from the encounter site were eight high-powered firearms, including five M16 rifles, two AK-47 rifles, and one M653 rifle.
Amsiwen confirmed that no civilians were affected during the firefight.
