BACOLOD City – Two soldiers were wounded in a firefight with suspected New People’s Army rebels in Sitio Sicaba, Barangay Gawahon, Victorias City, Negros Occidental.
The clash transpired around 8:30 a.m. on Friday – the same day that President Rodrigo Duterte threatened to declare the country under martial law if atrocities like this continue.
Colonel Inocencio Pasaporte, commander of the Philippine Army’s 303rd Infantry Brigade, said soldiers and policemen were spreading information about the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in Sitio Sicaba when they crossed paths with gunmen believed to be from the NPA.
A 30-minute gunfight ensued before the rebels backed away as bloodstains were seen in their escape route. The clash left two soldiers from the 79th Infantry Battalion wounded.
There were no immediate details yet on casualties from among the rebels.
The items recovered by the troops during their clearing operation were as follows:
* Two improvised explosive devices
* One bandolier with five magazines for AK47,
* One bandolier with two M16 magazines loaded ammunitions
* Two handheld radios with accessories
* Two cellular phones,
* One binocular,
* One compass,
* Four jungle packs and personal belongings, assorted medicines, eight pieces blankets, three rain boots and subversive documents.
Pasaporte once again lambasted the NPA’s latest atrocity for their deliberate efforts to sabotage government activities such as disseminating health information to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in communities.
“We are on top of the situation. There will be no letup on our operation against the NPAs and at the same time we will continue supporting local government units in addressing health concerns brought about by COVID-19,” said Pasaporte./PN
