TWO unidentified members of the New People’s Army (NPA) rebels were killed in their own attack on a Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit (Cafgu) detachment in Sitio Kakha, Barangay Talalak, Sta. Catalina town, Negros Oriental at 4:55 a.m. Thursday, June 21.
The 94th Infantry Battalion reported that about ten fully armed members of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP)-NPA attacked the Cafgu detachment that prompted the troops to immediately return fire. The firefight lasted for about 30 minutes which resulted to the recovery of the two slain bodies and various war items including one magazine of M16, two short magazines and 25 ammunitions of M16, three ammunitions of M14, one hand grenade, electrical wire, one empty shell of M2O3, one bandolier, assorted medicines, and other personal belongings.
No one was hurt on the government’s side.
Major General Dinoh Dolina, commander of the Army’s 3rd Infantry Division, said it was another cowardly act of the communist rebels who are desperate enough to hamper the peace and security efforts of the army in the area.
“They failed to do so since our troops managed to counter the attack. This clearly shows that our troops are always ready for any attack and prepared to defend the people at all times,” Dolina said.
Dolina reiterated his call to the rebels to lay down their arms, abandon armed movement and embrace the culture of peace.
Sta. Catalina along with other municipalities in Negros Oriental used to be the hotbed of the CPP-NPA in Eastern Negros taking advantage of the poor economic situation of the populace; hence the Provincial Peace and Order Council passed a resolution declaring the communist group persona non grata on March 12, 2019. (TDE)