Village watchman hurt as Army, NPA clash in Iloilo town

Leon, Iloilo (Google maps)

ILOILO CITY — A barangay tanod (village watchman) was wounded after government troops clashed with suspected New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in Iloilo on Tuesday two days after a rebel raid at a police station.

Romeo Cabalong was hit in the shoulder during a 30-minute firefight that started at 10:40 a.m. in Barangay Lampaya in Leon town, about 28 kilometers southwest of Iloilo City.

Troops under the Alpha Company of the Army’s 61st Infantry Battalion encountered an undetermined number of suspected rebels triggering a firefight, said Lt. Col. Arnel Cabugon, acting spokesperson of the Army’s 3rd Infantry Division. No other casualties have been reported as of 2:20 p.m. as soldiers continued to run after the suspected rebels.

It is unclear if the suspected rebels were the same ones who raided the municipal police station of Maasin town and took 15 firearms and ammunition on Sunday.

The rebels who raided the police station fled to Alimodian town, which is adjacent to Leon.  SFM