47 families displaced in Negros clash
BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — Over 40 families fled from their homes for fear of getting caught in the crossfire during an encounter between the military and at least 15 suspected New People’s Army (NPA) guerrillas in Sipalay, Negros Occidental on Saturday.
Of the 47 displaced families, 39 are currently staying in a covered court and daycare center in nearby Barangay Gil Montilla.
The rest are staying with their relatives, according to a report of the local disaster risk reduction and management council.
The families were provided tents, meals and other essentials by the city social welfare and development office.
Lt. Col. Jay Javines, civil-military operations officer of the Army’s 3rd Infantry Division, said the firefight in sitio Tunap in Barangay San Jose lasted 10 minutes.
Javines said that troopers of the Army’s 15th Infantry Battalion repelled the guerrillas, who were believed to be remnants of the NPA’s Komiteng Rehiyonal Negros/Cebu/Bohol/Siquijor.
The soldiers recovered several firearms left by the guerrillas at the scene of the encounter.
Nobody among the soldiers was wounded in the firefight.
A pursuit operation was launched for the fleeing guerrillas.
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