4 alleged NPA members killed in Negros Occidental town – military

Map of Negros Occidental | INQIRER.net

Updated @ 10:59 p.m., Wednesday, July 6, 2022

BACOLOD CITY, Negros Occidental, Philippines — Four suspected communist rebels were gunned down in an encounter with government troopers in Barangay Santol, Binalbagan town, Negros Occidental on Wednesday.

Their former comrades informed the military about the whereabouts of the four rebels, according to a statement issued on Wednesday by the Army’s 3rd Infantry Division.

“The information came initially from the 19 [former rebels who had surrendered] and was confirmed by a concerned civilian,” Capt. Kim Apitong, the spokesperson of the Army’s 3rd Infantry Division, told INQUIRER.net in a text message.

The slain rebels were not identified as of this writing.

The operation was conducted by joint forces of the 94th Infantry Battalion and police officers from the Binalbagan Municipal Police Office. They engaged around 14 communist rebels in a three-minute firefight in Sitio Amilis, Barangay Santol, in Binalbagan town.

The troops seized in the area the firearms and personal belongings of the alleged rebels.

Maj. Gen. Benedict Arevalo, commander of the 3rd Infantry Division, thanked the informers for their cooperation.

“We are thankful that we have the full support of our surrenderees and local populace who willingly provided our troops significant reports on the whereabouts of these communist terrorists,” Arevalo said.

“I commend our troops and their police counterparts for their persistent efforts in defeating the communist terrorists on Negros Island,” Arevalo said.

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