Soldiers, NPA rebels clash in Siaton, Negros Oriental

DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines – Soldiers of the 79th Infantry Battalion clashed with suspected members of the New People’s Army at Barangay Mantiquil in Siaton town, Negros Oriental over the weekend.

Colonel Francisco Patrimonio, commander of the 302nd Infantry Brigade, the Philippine Army’s mother unit in Negros Oriental, said the encounter was apparently part of the planned tactical offensive of the rebels who are set to celebrate the 44th founding anniversary of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) on March 29 (Good Friday).

A military report said the 79th IB soldiers, led by 1st Lt. Mark Anthony Calamba, acted on a tip from barangay residents about the presence of armed men at sitio Malangsa of Mantiquil village last Saturday.

The responding troops eventually encountered at least 15 fully-armed NPA rebels at the reported area. The soldiers said that, while they were approaching an abandoned house there, they were fired upon by the hiding rebels.

The gunbattle lasted for about five minutes before the suspected rebels fled. Soldiers later recovered some spent shells and kitchen utensils from the encounter site.

No one was reported injured in the clash even as Patrimonio said security measures are now in place to avert any possible tactical offensives by the CPP-NPA this week, especially as the Christian world is observing Holy Week during the period.

The planned tactical offensives of the CPP-NPA also targets civilians as well as vital installations, said Patrimonio.

Combat operations continue as part of the Philippine Army’s pro-active security measures because of the upcoming May 13 elections as well the CPP’s founding anniversary and the observance of Holy Week.

The Philippine Army has also warned its Bayanihan Teams and detachments against possible attacks by the insurgents and to take the necessary safety measures, Patrimonio said.

Last week, the military also met with security officers of vital installations for coordination with them, and with the police to strengthen security and protection of these sites, which could be targets of the NPA, he added.  (FREEMAN)