BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL G. BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – The Philippine Army’s 303rd Infantry Brigade (303IBde) yesterday identified the casualties in last Saturday’s encounter with the terrorist New People’s Army (NPA) in Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental.
The fatalities were Corporal Christian Drilon, a native of San Enrique town in Iloilo province, and Corporal Rex Verde, a native of Guimaras province.
The six wounded soldiers were Corporal Joey Gardose, Private First Class (PFC) Rolly Rama, PFC June Fuentes, PFC Lander, Private Wilchor Recaña, and Sergeant Edgiel Ucag.
All eight were members of the Army’s 94th Infantry Battalion (94IB).
Based on information released by the 303IBde, a follow-up search conducted by government forces yielded assorted ammunition, firearms, gun parts, backpacks containing the rebels’ personal belongings, and subversive documents.
The 303IBde added that an undetermined number of NPA insurgents were also killed in the running gun battle, with dozens believed to be wounded, as evidenced by the traces of blood in the combat zone.
Clearing and hot pursuit operations are still ongoing as of this writing.
Brigadier General Inocencio Pasaporte, commander of the 303IBde, condoled with the families of the two soldiers for paying the ultimate sacrifice for the peace and security of Himamaylan City and the rest of Negros island.
Over 15K residents evacuate
Meanwhile, in a report released by the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) of Negros Occidental, as of 9 a.m. yesterday, a total of 15,024 residents of barangays Carabalan and Cabadiangan and Barangay 3 were evacuated due to the ongoing combat operations in the area.
Based on a copy of the report forwarded to Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Region 6 is closely coordinating with Himamaylan City’s social welfare and development office for the immediate relief assistance to the affected families.
The local social welfare office is also ready to distribute more relief assistance once the Army clears the venues for distribution.
Among the augmented food items sent to the evacuees are 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.
The combat operations in the area of Barangay Carabalan began last Oct. 6, when the 94IB stumbled into the NPA’s harboring area.
A total of four running gun battles occurred between Thursday and Saturday./PN
