2 soldiers die, 1 hurt in clash w/ NPA rebels

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — Two soldiers were killed, while another one was injured, in a gunbattle with suspected New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in Cadiz City, Negros Occidental Tuesday morning.

Lieutenant Col. Isabelo de los Reyes, 303rd Infantry Brigade civil-military operations officer, said those killed were PFCs Crispy Ryan Toledo and Nazario Buenavidez, while Sgt. Alfredo Isidro Jr., was hit in the left leg and is now being treated at a private hospital in Bacolod City.

A platoon-sized unit of the 62nd Infantry Battalion soldiers were on security patrol in Brgy. Andres Bonifacio of Cadiz City, when they clashed with a group of rebels, he added.

Army soldiers stationed at the 62IB tactical commander post temporarily stationed in the place, responded to information relayed to them about the presence of a group of armed NPA rebels.

On their way to a remote area of the barangay the soldiers were waylaid by the armed men and this led to about 15 minutes of gunbattle.

Military reports said the encounter happened two days after government troopers overran two rebel camps in the hinterlands of Sipalay City.