Army overruns camp of NPA in Negros Occidental

CEBU, Philippines — As peace talks between the Philippine government and the Communist Party of the Philippines - New People's Army (CPP-NPA) are set to resume, the Philippine Army's 79th Infantry Battalion (IB) and suspected members of the CPP-NPA clashed in Barangay Guadalupe, San Carlos City, Negros Occidental yesterday.

The firefight, which lasted for 20 minutes, happened at around 8 a.m. when around 30 to 40 armed men opened fire at the members of 79th IB's Spearhead Division while conducting security patrol, the military said in a statement.

Soon after the encounter, the alleged NPA guerillas immediately fled, leaving their camp behind. Upon scouring the said camp, the military recovered a solar panel, "subversive documents," and some personal items.

The camp could accommodate up to 40 persons, had two kitchens, and held an ample supply of water, Brigadier General Eliezer Losañes, commanding officer of the 303rd Infantry Brigade assigned in Negros Island, told The FREEMAN in a phone interview. Mobile reception was also reportedly good at the camp site.

No casualties from the military's side were reported, while troops are still verifying reports of deaths from the side of the suspected rebels, said Captain Rowell Dairocas, the 79th IB's acting civil military operations officer.

As of press time, troops are still conducting both clearing operations within the encounter site and pursuit operations of the fleeing NPA rebels.

The encounter stemmed from a security patrol the military was conducting in the area, in response to reports from locals that members of the NPA allegedly harassed and extorted them.

"It is a clear indication that the community (there) doesn't want the armed NPA terrorists conducting extortion, harassment, and recruitment of minors as terrorists," said Lieutenant Colonel Emelito Thaddeus Logan, commanding officer of the 79th IB.

For his part, Dairocas said that the military is still open to peace talks with the rebels, even after yesterday's firefight.

"Kami sa military, open mi ana. Kita man ganahan jud ug peace talks, pero depende na sa pikas. Mosunod lang kung unsa ang mando sa atong presidente," he told The FREEMAN.

In Negros Oriental, police provincial director Sr. Supt. Edwin Portento ordered police stations in areas near San Carlos City, such as Vallehermoso, Guihulngan City, and Canlaon City, to be on alert following the clash.

The encounter came over a month after military forces were allegedly involved in a firefight in Barangay Luyang in Mabinay, Negros Oriental. Arrested after the said firefight was youth leader Myles Albasin, a fresh graduate of the University of the Philippines - Cebu, and five others, who were eventually called the "Mabinay 6" by local media. (FREEMAN)