SEPARATE encounters with the New People’s Army (NPA) in upland barangays of Sandayao and Trinidad in Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental, happened in one day over the weekend.

Colonel Michael Samson, acting commander of the 303rd Infantry Brigade (IB), said the encounter started Saturday, January 16, 2021, and pursuit operations were still ongoing.

He said the 62IB is now being assisted by the Philippine Air Force in the conduct of pursuit against a group of heavily armed NPA rebels figured in a series of encounters.

The first encounter between 62IB soldiers and 20 suspected NPA rebels took place at the boundary of Sitios Punong and Batong Buang in Barangay Trinidad, Guihulngan around 1 p.m. Saturday.

It was followed by three successive encounters with another group of fleeing rebels, as the running gunbattles reached Barangay Sandayao, Guihulngan City, Major Cenon Pancito, 3rd Infantry Division spokesperson, said.

Samson reported that 62IB soldiers were still in pursuit operations of the fleeing rebels and scouring the encounter sites, as of press time.

He added that nobody was hurt among the 62IB soldiers, while they are still trying to establish on the NPA side.