4 alleged communist rebels die in encounter with soldiers in Guihulngan

Soldiers carry a body bag containing the cadaver of a suspected communist rebel following an encounter with government troopers in Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental on Sunday, May 21. (Photo courtesy of the 32nd Infantry Battalion)

BACOLOD CITY — Four more suspected communist rebels were killed in an encounter with government troopers in Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental on Sunday, May 21.

According to a statement released by the Philippine Army, the operation was an offshoot of the gunfight that killed five alleged members of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Moises Padilla, Negros Occidental on Saturday.

The 62nd Infantry Battalion (IB), the report said, traced the retreating rebels to Sitio Cambawgon, Barangay Trinidad, Guihulngan City at around 5:10 a.m. on Sunday.

Seized from the suspects were an M4 Firebird, three M-16 rifles, a .30 caliber Springfield Bar Rifle, three .45 caliber pistols, assorted ammunition, four rifle grenades, a hand grenade, an improvised explosive device, a detonating cord, binoculars, five backpacks, and personal belongings.

There were no casualties on the government side.

“Blood stains were discovered in the NPA route of withdrawal which indicates that an undetermined number of fleeing rebels were wounded,” the Army said.

Government troopers appealed to fleeing rebels to surrender and return to the fold of the law.

“The government forces are giving you the chance to return to the fold of the law because the troops of the 62nd IB will never stop hunting you to ensure that long and lasting peace will be attained in Central Negros,” the Army said.

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JPV