PHILIPPINE ARMY-NPA CLASH IN NEGROS LEAVES 3 DEAD

2008-10-06 13:15:51 - DUMAGUETE CITY. 3 killed, one hurt in Negros Oriental clash

By Judy Flores-Partlow

Two Army enlisted personnel and a civilian guide were killed while another soldier was wounded in an encounter between military troops and Communist New People's Army (NPA) rebels at dawn Sunday in Barangay Buenavista, Sta. Catalina, Negros Oriental.

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Around 4:20 a.m. of Sunday, soldiers of the 79th Infantry Battalion clashed with around 60 heavily armed men believed to be members of the Sentro de Gravidad (SDG)/Sulphur Platoon of the NPA's Komiteng Rehiyon Sentral Bisayas (KRSB) in Sitio Kantukhaw, Barangay Buenavista in Sta. Catalina town.

The rebels were said to be carrying high-powered firearms to include two M-60 machine guns.

Col. Cesar Yano, 302nd Infantry Brigade Commander, identified the wounded personnel as Cpl. Arnold Montinola.

Montinola sustained injuries on his thigh and was evacuated to the Silliman University Medical Center (SUMC) in Dumaguete by Air Force UH-1H helicopters that were also still ferrying additional troops to the area amid ongoing hot pursuit operations.

A civilian, identified as Nelson Locadilao of Barangay Buenavista, Sta. Catalina, also died in the clash as he acted as guide to the army troops, said Yano.

Two other Army personnel were also killed in the same encounter but their names are being withheld pending notification of their next of kin.

The latest encounter comes two days after NPA rebels burned down two farm tractors in the lush Tamlang Valley where a massive bio-fuels project involving the planting of cassava and jatropha is being undertaken.

Col. Yano warned that the military will continue with their tactical offensives against the rebels without let-up.

Hot pursuit operations continue in the hinterlands of southern Negros Oriental as of press time.