RECOVERED WEAPONS. Photo shows the high-powered firearms, explosives, anti-personnel mine, ammunition and alleged subversive documents recovered by government soldiers after an encounter with alleged rebels in Ayungon, Negros Oriental on Saturday (July 13, 2019). A suspected rebel was killed in the clash and buried in the town's public cemetery on Sunday (July 14, 2019). (Photo courtesy of the Philippine Army)
DUMAGUETE CITY – The local government unit (LGU) of Ayungon in Negros Oriental has buried the body of an alleged member of the New People’s Army (NPA) who died in an encounter with Army troops last Saturday.
Capt. Cenon Pancito III, chief of the Public Affairs Office of the 3rd Infantry Division, on Monday said the unidentified suspected rebel was buried at the town’s public cemetery on Sunday.
The deceased was killed during a clash between troops of the 62nd Infantry Battalion and more or less 15 fully-armed suspected insurgents at around 5 a.m. at the border of Carol-an, Kabankalan in Negros Occidental and Upper Carol-an, Ayungon in Negros Oriental.
The troops proceeded to the area after receiving information from the local populace on the presence of armed men, a report from the Philippine Army said.
The firefight lasted for about 20 minutes.
The Army soldiers, after the encounter, recovered an M16A1 rifle, anti-personnel landmine, two improvised black bandoliers, 237 rounds of live ammunition 5.56mm ball, two rifle grenades, 10 rounds of live ammunition 7.62 mm ball (AK 47), one round of live ammunition of 40 mm (high explosive), other items for anti-personnel landmine, alleged subversive documents, and personal belongings.
It was the fourth encounter between the government forces and alleged NPA members in just three weeks in Negros, Pancito said.
The other clashes, all in Negros Oriental, occurred last June 21 at a Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU) detachment in Sta. Catalina where two government troops were killed, on June 22 in Manjuyod town, and on July 2 in Bindoy town. (PNA)
