THIRD ENCOUNTER. A third skirmish between New People’s Army fighters and Philippine Army troops in Negros Occidental this week took place in the hinterlands of Escalante City on Thursday morning (April 20, 2023). Another communist rebel died, the third following the series of gunbattles. (Image courtesy of 303rd Infantry Brigade, Philippine Army)
BACOLOD CITY – A third New People’s Army (NPA) rebel died this week in renewed clashes between insurgents and government troops, with the latest encounter in the hinterlands of Barangay Binaguiohan, Escalante City in northern Negros Occidental on Thursday morning.
The fatality has yet to be identified, according to the Philippine Army’s 303rd Infantry Brigade (IBde) report.
“One unidentified NPA terrorist member was killed and two soldiers were hurt,” the 303 IBde report added.
The two wounded soldiers in the Escalante City clash were from the 79th Infantry Battalion (79IB).
During the clearing operation, troops of 79IB recovered an M14 rifle, three rifle grenades, three 40mm high explosives grenades, and personal belongings.
At about 2 a.m. on the same day, troops of the 94th IB encountered a group of NPA fighters at the boundary of Binalbagan and Isabela, which claimed the life of a still unidentified communist rebel.
Meanwhile, the firefight in Barangay Quintin Remo, Moises Padilla on Tuesday led to the death of Jose “Jojo” Albores, one of the leaders of the “kangaroo court” tasked to kill persons suspected to be against the NPA, under the Central Negros Front 1 of the Leonardo Panaligan Command. (PNA)
