A TOTAL of 46 families and 224 individuals were evacuated from two villages in San Carlos City, Negros Occidental, after members of the 79th Infantry Battalion (IB) of the Philippine Army engaged in a firefight with suspected communist rebels in Barangay Guadalupe on April 16.

Inspector Charmae De Paz, public information officer of Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (Nocppo), said Tuesday, April 17, that these families went to the nearest schools in Barangays Nataban and Buluangan after hearing gunfire in the said area around 8:30 a.m.

As of 1 p.m. Tuesday, April 17, De Paz said that 27 families were temporarily sheltered at Handalagan Elementary School while 19 families stayed at Mabato Elementary School.

They were assisted by the barangay officials, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and local government unit of San Carlos City.

Some of the evacuees returned to their homes but there are those who are still staying at the schools while waiting for the instructions from the military troops, De Paz added.

On April 16, about 30 suspected New People's Army (NPA) members fired at the government troopers who were conducting community security patrol following complaints from residents against the alleged harassment and extortion from the rebels.

The firefight lasted for 20 minutes. No casualties were reported.

Recovered from the campsite, which can accommodate 30 to 40 persons, were a solar panel, subversive documents, and other personal belongings owned by the rebels.

The rebels allegedly fled to the areas of Vallehermoso and Canlaon City in Negros Oriental.

Brigadier General Eliezer Losañes, commanding officer of the 303rd Infantry Brigade based in Murcia town, said the camp belongs to North Negros Front of NPA.

He said the recent atrocities of the rebels is a clear violation of the pre-condition set by President Rodrigo Duterte for the resumption of the peace talks between the Government Peace Panel and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines.

He added that the President has been aware of what is happening on the ground.

“How can you negotiate peace talks when you are doing the extortion and conducting atrocities like burning? The president is aware of that,” he said.