BY: BY JENNIFER C. TILOS
NEGROS ORIENTAL, April 4 (PIA) -- Two of the five members of the New People’s Army (NPA) were killed in an encountered with army troops of 79th Infantry Battalion yesterday at sitio Makasakasa, Barangay Balayong, Pamplona town, Negros Oriental.
Army information officer Capt. Crescencio Gargar said the firef fight ensued for 20 minutes with running gunbattle as the enemy withdrew towards different directions leaving behind two dead and one injured rebel companions.
In a press conference today, the military and pólice officers presented the recovered six high powered firearms which included five M16 rifles with one M203 Granade Launcher and some personal belongings of the NPA.
Commanding officer LtC Harold Pascua of 79th IB said the troops conducted pursuit operation that resulted to the capture of one high-ranking NPA wounded but given first aid by the army troopers while waiting for the army ambulance for evacuation to the hospital.
The wounded NPA is believed to be Jessie Dacaldacal aka Jukol/RC/ Aiza, a squad leader of the NPAs operating in areas of Sta. Catalina town and boundaries of Pamplona.
Capt. Gargar said prior to the encounter some concerned citizens sent several text messages informing that there were unidentified armed men staying inside the house of undetermined residents waiting for their food stuffs.
The troops immediately acted on the report and made negotiations for peaceful surrender but the NPAs failed to answer instead, they fired upon the government troops which prompted the troops to fire back, said Gargar.
Ltc Pascua said that the capture is a clear evidence that residents of the said barangay particularly Sitio Makasakasa were not anymore accepting their ideologies and even their presence.
Meantime, the military is in constant communication with the barangay officials to ensure the safety of the residents in the area and to facilitate possible assistance for the decent burial of the deceased NPA members.
Members of the Philippine National Police Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) are now conducting investigation in the encounter site. (mbcn/JCT/PIA7-Negros Oriental)