2 dead, 2 hurt in clash in Negros Occidental

BACOLOD CITY—Two people were killed while two others were wounded in a clash on Friday morning between soldiers and armed men in Hinobaan town, Negros Occidental.

Col. Francisco Delfin, 303rd Brigade Commander, said that the Army soldiers led by 2Lt. Alex Bunagan encountered about 12 armed men at Sitio (sub-village) Bugtong Lubi, Barangay (village) Damutan, Hinobaan, around 7:40 a.m.

He said the firefight was ongoing and as of posting time, two of the perpetrators were killed while two soldiers were wounded.

Troops recovered one baby Armalite, he said.

The encounter happened around 12 hours after 18 armed men believed to be members of the New People’s Army attacked Hacienda Jamandre and abducted a member of the Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade (RPA-ABB) around 8:45 p.m. on Thursday in Barangay Robles in La Castellana town, also in Negros Occidental.

Delfin said armed men strafed and ransacked the house of Maximo Magbanua, an RPA-ABB member, and confiscated three rifles with one attached grenade launcher, one sub-machine gun and one short firearm.

He added that the group also kidnapped Cerilo de Asis, another RPA-ABB member, as they fled to Mandayao 4 in Barangay Camandag, La Castellana.
Recovered from the site were empty shells of a M16 rifle and 4 empty shells of M203 grenade launcher, he said.

Delfin said that Maximo was able to put up a firefight but was overwhelmed by the attackers.

He reportedly escaped but remained missing as of this time, Delfin said. RAM

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