Two members of the New People’s Army (NPA) were killed and seven Army soldiers were wounded when elements of the 62nd Infantry (Unifier) Battalion encountered the rebels at about 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, April 9, “Araw ng Kagitingan”.
The clash took place at Sitio Asaran, Barangay Buenavista, Himamaylan City, that lasted for about an hour.
The troops conducted an operation after receiving information from civilians on the presence of about 20 armed terrorists in a temporary camp.
During the firefight and the troops were assaulting the enemy’s position, the rebels detonated an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) that resulted to seven slightly wounded personnel, but all of them are now in stable condition after they were airlifted by helicopters and brought to the hospital.
Although no body was found, soldiers heard rebels shout about retrieving their two dead comrades prior to their escape.
The rebel hideout was found to be able to accommodate some 20 persons.
The enemy withdrew to the northeast direction of the barangay. LGU urged.
Lt. Col Egberto O. Dacoscos, 62nd IB Commanding Officer, is urging the attention of the Local Government Unit of Himamaylan City, particularly Barangay Buenavista for the “highly alarming situation which requires holistic approach from all concerned stakeholders to address the issue of terrorism being conducted by the CNTs in the area.”
The 62IB provided additional troops using two helicopters to conduct pursuit operation against the armed group.(Cyrus Garde, NDB)*