FOR their gallantry, two soldiers who died in an encounter with suspected members of the Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) in the hinterlands of Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental over the weekend may receive Gold Cross posthumous award, a Philippine Army official said Sunday, October 9.
Brigadier General Inocencio Pasaporte, the 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, said the soldiers who are from the provinces of Iloilo and Guimaras died while being treated at the Riverside Medical Center, where they were brought after being air lifted to Bacolod.
But Pasaporte said they could not release the names of the fatalities yet as requested by their respective families.
The six other soldiers who were wounded in the gun battle were conferred “Wounded Personnel Medal” by Pasaporte at their hospital beds Sunday.
They were also visited by National Defense Secretary Jose Calingasan Faustino Jr., who assured them of help.
The soldiers from the 94th Infantry Battalion (IB) were hit by enemy fire while they were maneuvering to assault the rebels at the mountainous area of Sitio Cunalom in Barangay Carabalan, Himamaylan City, a military report showed.
It added that close air support was then employed to suppress the enemy fire and extricate the wounded troops while the rebels were forced to withdraw towards different directions.
Soldiers were also able to trace bloodstains at the encounter site while scouring the area.
Despite what happened, Pasaporte assured that they will remain steadfast in defending the peace in the island against the rebels.
“The series of encounters stopped the NPA terrorists from executing their plans against the indigent communities in the hinterland of Himamaylan, particularly intimidation and extortion activities,” he said.
A .45 caliber pistol, two magazines and nine rounds of ammunition of the same caliber, a hammock, and a backpack with high intelligence value belonging to the fleeing rebels were recovered from the encounter site, the military said.
With this, Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said in a statement that the province mourns over the loss of the soldiers who were killed during the encounter in Barangay Carabalan.
“I offer my sincerest condolences to the families of our two fallen soldiers (as) they lost their lives in action, in the pursuit of peace for the province, and for the security of the people of Himamaylan and Negros Occidental,” Lacson said.
He said that what they did for the country, the province, and the people is the highest form of bravery, sacrifice, and patriotism that must always be honored and never forgotten, the governor stressed as he urged everyone to continue praying for the recovery of those who are wounded.
Like Lacson, Himamaylan Mayor Raymond Tongson also offered his condolences to the families of the fallen soldiers for their bravery, gallantry and ultimate sacrifice for the safety and security of his locality.
“In light of this loss, the city government of Himamaylan guarantees to all agencies our full support to uphold peace in our homeland and to ensure the safety of our constituency,” Tongson said.
For his part, 3rd Infantry Division Commander Major General Benedict Arevalo said the soldiers’ loss will serve as our inspiration and motivation to reach our long-time quest for just and lasting peace not only in Negros Island but also in the whole Western and Central Visayas.
Meanwhile, the Himamaylan City Task Force-End Local Communists Armed Conflict (TF-Elcac) is giving basic provisions to thousands of displaced residents due to the encounter.
Himamaylan City TF-Elcac, headed by Tongson, is taking care of the evacuees through its City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) by providing sleeping kits and relief goods.
Records from the CSWDO showed that there are 436 families or about 1,707 people who were evacuated from Sitio Sig-ang in Barangay Carabalan who fled their homes and are now temporarily staying at the evacuation center of Himamaylan.
The villagers left their homes after the encounter that took place around 6 a.m. on Thursday.