By Glazyl Y. Masculino
BACOLOD City – The Army’s 303rd Infantry Brigade (IBde) reported its first clash this year which resulted in the death of an alleged member of the New People’s Army (NPA) at Sitio Maliko-liko, Barangay Carabalan, Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental yesterday.
Colonel Michael Samson, acting 303rd IBde commander, said the slain rebel has yet to be identified.
The encounter occurred after the military troopers responded to a report regarding the alleged presence of unidentified armed persons believed to be members of Central Negros 2-Komiteng Rehiyon Negros Cebu Bohol Siquijor (CN2-KR-NCBS) who were allegedly conducting extortion activity in the area around 6:30 a.m.
Samson said the suspected NPA rebels were gathered in a forest in the village. The soldiers clashed with at least 10 unidentified armed persons for about five minutes, he added.
Recovered from the encounter site were an M14 rifle, an M4 rifle, an M79 grenade launcher, two M16 rifles, a rifle grenade, seven M14 rifle magazines and ammunitions, an M4 rifle magazine and ammunitions, four grenade launcher ammunition, two bandoliers, a backpack, an NPA flag, and subversive documents.
No injuries were reported on the government side, according to Samson.
Last year, the 94th IB and 62nd IB engaged in a series of clashes in Barangay Carabalan which resulted in the death of an NPA leader and two other members.
It also resulted in the evacuation of thousands of residents in the said village and nearby barangays.
Two soldiers were also killed while six others were wounded in the series of clashes in the said village in October 2022.
