THREE days after two soldiers died and six others wounded, a suspected member of the Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) was killed in another encounter at the hinterlands of Barangay Carabalan in Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental at about 5 p.m. Monday, October 10.
The unidentified dead rebel was a male, whom 303rd Infantry Brigade Commander Brigadier General Inocencio Pasaporte described to be a “familiar face.”
Asked if the dead rebel is a member of a progressive group, he said, “I don’t know, maybe he is.”
Soldiers were able to recover the suspected CTG member’s backpack containing personal things and a .45 caliber pistol, Pasaporte also said, adding that government troops are still pursuing the group.
On Saturday, Corporal Christian Drilon of San Enrique town in Iloilo, and Corporal Rex Verde of Guimaras province died while they were being treated at the Riverside Medical Center in Bacolod City.
Aside from them, Corporal Joey Gardo se, Private First Class Rolly Rama, June Fuentes, Wilson Liander and Wilchor Recaña, as well as Sergeant Edgiel Ucag were also wounded when they were hit by enemy fire.
Pasaporte said the slain and injured soldiers will receive heroes' accord and financial assistance.
The encounter Monday night is already the fifth in a series of gun battle in the southern Negros Occidental locality since Thursday, October 6, causing thousands of residents to flee their homes.
In a report released by the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) Monday, some 15,024 residents of Barangays Carabalan, Cabadiangan, and Barangay 3 in the city were evacuated due to the ongoing combat operations in the areas.
The local social welfare has so far sent food items to the evacuees including 10 sacks of rice, 240 family food packs, five boxes of fortified meals, 10 boxes of corned beef, 10 boxes of beef loaf, and five boxes of arroz caldo (porridge).
It is also ready to distribute more relief assistance once the Army cleared the venues for distribution.
In a related development, Ka Dionesio Magbuelas, spokesperson of the Mount Cansermon Command of the New People's Army, condemned the “military control” imposed by the 303rd Brigade as rampant militarization is currently monitored in Barangays Carabalan, Mahalang and Buenavista.
“The military is obviously using the encounter at Sitio Sig-ang to justify the establishment of detachments in the mountainous areas of Himamaylan City and make it seem like it is the demand of the people," he said.
"With the current situation, the people will likely rise in resistance to intimidation, threats and harassment, torture and killings perpetrated by the fascist military," he added. (with reports from Teresa D. Ellera)