TWO suspected members of the New People’s Army (NPA) were reportedly killed in an encounter with the military troopers at Barangay Washington, Escalante City, Negros Occidental on November 16.
Colonel Benedict Arevalo, commanding officer of the 303rd Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army based in Murcia town, said on November 16 that troops from the 79th Infantry Battalion, members of the 6th Special Action Force of the Philippine National Police, and Joint Intelligence Task Group conducted a clearing operation at the coastal village after receiving reports from concerned citizens that there were sightings of armed men in the area.
While the clearing operation was ongoing, they encountered about 10 alleged NPA members who were reportedly seeking refuge in the area.
A firefight ensued between the government forces and the suspected rebels for about 15 minutes.
Arevalo said there were two alleged casualties on the side of the rebels based on the statements of the residents and other witnesses in the area.
As the rebel group withdrew towards the northwest direction, they brought with them the two casualties. Military troops were unharmed.
Authorities recovered from the clash site an M16 rifle, .45 caliber pistol, bandoleer with six steel magazines and 120 live ammunition, two water containers, two sacks of rice, assorted belongings, and subversive documents with high intelligence value.
Prior to the said encounter, the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan)–Negros said that hundreds of military troops on board five army trucks were conducting military operations at the villages of Washington and Alimango in the guise of counter-terror actions against the supposed Abu Sayyaf elements who landed in the coastal areas of north Negros. Residents fear more human rights violations after reports of mauling, violation of domicile, and illegal arrests were reported in military operations in San Carlos City in October.
Arevalo, meanwhile, said there was “no militarization” that happened because the presence of military and police in the area was intended for clearing operations following reports of armed men sightings in the village.
“What is questionable was the presence of a couple, who earlier introduced themselves as the alleged grandparents of the 14-year-old boy, who survived the massacre of nine farmers in Bulanon village in Sagay City on October 20,” Arevalo said.
Authorities earlier revealed that the couple was not the biological grandparents of the minor-survivor. The minor-survivor, who is the primary witness in the Sagay massacre, just stayed under their custody since his parents got separated.
“Why are they near the encounter site and the vicinity of the NPA?” Arevalo asked.
“We are now looking into the possible connection of these two persons with the rebels,” he added.
Despite the incident, the army commander assured the residents that the situation in Washington village is normal.
“There’s nothing to worry. They should only worry if they’re hiding the NPAs,” Arevalo said.
The clearing operation is ongoing in the area.
As this developed, Arevalo reiterated his instructions to the troops.
“We cannot wait for the NPAs to attack us. We will attack them first before they attack us. I want the troops to go out and run after the NPAs,” Arevalo said.
He encouraged the people of Negros to support the troops and report any NPA activities in their area to prevent any “terroristic” activities in the community.