BACOLOD CITY, Negros Occidental, Philippines – An Army commander based in the island thanked people in an upland community of Siaton town for providing information on the presence of “remnants” of a guerrilla front believed to be under a unit that also clashed with the same Army battalion on Christmas day, last year.
Lieutenant Colonel Ramir Redosendo, commanding officer of the 11 Infantry Battalion said he is thankful to the community for the “timely information” that led to “another win for the government forces and Negrosanon.”
Redosendo added the Army in Oriental Negros is “determined to end the local communist armed conflict in the province,” as he vowed that they “will continue to safeguard the people and the community against those who continue to pursue their twisted ideology and sow terror.”
Troopers of Redosendo’s unit clashed Sunday, 14 February with an estimated six suspected guerrillas of the New People’s Army in the sub-village of Balasakan in the hinterland village of Napacao.
The NPA team is believed to be the remaining Red fighters of the Southeast Front, Komiteng Rehiyon Negros, Cebu, Bohol, and Siquijor (SEF, KR – NCBS) around 6am of 14 February.
The firefight lasted for about 15 minutes after which the Army reported no casualty on their side but added an “undetermined number of casualties from the terrorist side were reported following the bloodstains found in the withdrawal route.”
Soldiers recovered a rifle, a pistol and other belongings of the rebels.
A unit of the 11th IB also encountered guerrillas from the same NPA front Christmas eve last year that led to the death of two suspected guerrillas – codenamed Ka MJ and Ka George, a news release from the 11th IB added.
