BACOLOD CITY, Negros Occidental, Philippines – Camp Gerona has confirmed the death of a Communist rebel whose body was found in an upland community early in the morning today, 21 November 2022, after a brief gunbattle between 62nd Battalion soldiers and a small band of rebels who are under increasing pressure from State security forces.
Brigadier General Innocencio Pasaporte told DNX villagers in the mountain community of Banderahan reported the presence of an estimated five armed guerrillas of the New People’s Army to soldiers of the 62nd Battalion that sent troops to check on the extortion activities by the rebels.
“The people find them to be pesky and told our soldiers about it,” said Pasaporte who commands the Army 303rd Brigade based in Murcia town.
The clash lasted briefly, around five minutes, after which the rebels fled and left behind a dead comrade whose body was found by pursuing soldiers.
The Army did not report any soldier to have been killed or wounded.
Today’s clash in Trinidad village in Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental, is around 120 kilometers north of here.
Pasaporte said the guerrilla unit is part of the Central Negros Front 1, a rebel formation founded by captured priest Frank Fernandez, former leader of the Communist Party in the island.
The New People’s Army here had been suffering successive battlefield losses, including the death of its military comnander, Romeo Nanta, in the Carabalan battles,and mass surrenders of its fighters and cadres.
