BACOLOD CITY, Negros Occidental — No cause for alarm.
The military here has assured that the latest encounter with the rebels in the village of Gatuslao in Candoni is not a cause for alarm in the coming polls.
303rd Infantry Brigade chief General Inocencio Pasaporte and town chief police Captain Ronald Santillan gave the assurances as the rebels and government troopers clashed anew in the afternoon of 3 May 2022, killing at least one suspected member of the New People’s Army, and with one trooper — the army’s platoon leader — wounded.
Troopers had acted on reports from villagers, who tipped them off about the presence of armed rebels in the area.
Santillan said residents should not worry for their safety during the upcoming elections even though the Commission on Elections has earlier classified the town under red category or area of grave concern.
The government soldiers were already among those stationed in the area to ensure security for the upcoming national and local polls.
Around 1,396 policemen from provincial police have been deployed to their stations in time for next Monday’s National and Local elections.
