Clash forces hundreds to flee homes in Negros Occ.

According to the Philippine Army’s 79th Infantry Battalion, around 381 individuals evacuate at the Doña Rosorio Baldevia Elementary School in Sitio Sta. Ana, Barangay Mabini, Escalante City, Negros Occidental following an encounter between government troops and communist rebels on Thursday, March 21. MASALIGAN BATALLION

BACOLOD City – Around 700 people evacuated their houses after government troops engaged in a gun battle against communist rebels in Negros Occidental’s two northern localities.

According to the Philippine Army’s 79th Infantry Battalion (IB), around 381 individuals sought shelter at the Doña Rosorio Baldevia Elementary School in Sitio Sta. Ana, Barangay Mabini, Escalante City, Negros Occidental.

In the town of Toboso, Negros Occidental, around 301 persons evacuated at the San Jose National High School in Barangay San Jose.

Toboso mayor Richard Jaojoco issued an executive order declaring the suspension of classes on Friday in 11 public elementary and high schools located in the vicinity and neighboring villages.

Government soldiers encountered around 10 New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in Barangay Mabini, Escalante City around 7:15 p.m. on Thursday, said Lieutenant Colonel Emelito Thaddeus Logan, commanding officer of the 79th IB.

He said the gun battle lasted for about 10 minutes. The rebels fled with three to four members believed to be injured.

Logan added that during the clearing and pursuit operations, an NPA member surrendered.

The troops also recovered medicines valued at around P300,000 and a record book containing an inventory of the items with boxes of assorted canned goods from the rebels.

“The recovered medicines and canned goods left by the NPAs during the encounter may have come from their extortion activities or from support they are receiving from someone,” Logan said.

A joint Quick Reaction Team led by Logan and Major Win-Love Bag-ao, commander of 33rd Civil-Military Operations Company, along with Mayor Jaojoco and Escalante City mayor Eddie Montero distributed relief goods to the affected residents./PN

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