4 NPA rebels killed, Army soldier hurt in Negros Oriental clash

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — Four communist rebels were killed while an Army soldier was wounded in an encounter in Tanjay City, Negros Oriental on Saturday.

Only two of the four rebels were identified.

They were Diosdado “Aming” Dacal-dacal, squad leader of Sentro De Grabidad Platoon, Southeast Front, KR-Negros (SEF, KR-N) and Felix Yanoc, said  Maj. Ray Tiongson, Army 3rd Division spokesman.

Corporal Melbert Dapilaga of the 79th Infantry Battalion was wounded in the left shoulder by a grenade shrapnel.

He was in stable condition after he was treated in a hospital in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental, said Tiongson.

Soldiers belonging to the 79th IB were in Sitio (sub-village) Pitawa, Barangay (village) Sto. Niño in Tanjay about 4 p.m. to check on reported presence of armed men in the area.

But Tiongson said the soldiers were fired upon by at least 20 members of the New People’s Army (NPA), which resulted in a 30-minute gunfire.

The rebels then scampered in different directions, prompting the soldiers to chase them.

While pursuing the fleeing rebels, the troops encountered the rebels again at 4:45 p.m. resulting in another gunbattle.

Four NPA rebels were killed. Their bodies were left behind by their comrades.

Recovered from the NPA were an M-16 rifle, a Kenwood handheld radio, a bandoleer, documents of high intelligence value, food and personal belonging.

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