Cauayan: Renewed clash between Philippine Army troops and New People's Army (NPA) remnants in Cauayan, Negros Occidental over the weekend claimed the lives of five communist rebels, the military said in a report.
According to Philippines News Agency, information from the locals led soldiers of the 15th Infantry Battalion to the location of South West Front fighters and a running gunbattle ensued in the vicinity of barangays Abaca, Poblacion, and Man-uling. In a statement, Brig. Gen. Jason Jumawan, commander of the 302nd Infantry Brigade (IBde), said the heavy losses suffered by the NPA "exposes the deteriorating condition" of the dismantled rebel front. He noted that the continued collapse of communist-terrorist formations in Negros reflects the growing rejection of violent armed struggle by communities once exploited.
On Sunday, five bodies were retrieved from the encounter site and brought to R and S Funeral Homes with the assistance of the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office. Based on reports, the clash started around 6 a.m. followed by two more at 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. To ensure community safety, an estimated 180 families from the three villages were evacuated and assisted by barangay officials and municipal government personnel.
In its report, the 302IBde said the troops recovered various high-powered weapons such as an M60 machine gun, M16 rifles, an M14 rifle, an M203 grenade launcher, and a hand grenade from the encounter site. Brig. Gen. Jumawan expressed regret over the loss of lives but emphasized the necessity of defending the community from senseless killings of innocent civilians.
In a separate statement, Maj. Gen. Michael Samson, commander of the 3rd Infantry Division, stated that the neutralization of the five rebels is a significant setback for the NPA remnants in southern Negros. He highlighted that the tip-off from the local populace reflects the growing trust and confidence of the community in the Army, and vowed to sustain intensified focused military operations to prevent the fleeing NPA terrorists from regrouping.
Meanwhile, Mayor John Rey Tabujara of Cauayan strongly condemned the violence, intimidation, and disturbance caused by the New People's Army during the armed encounter. He stated that these acts have disrupted the peace of the communities and placed innocent civilians in distress, asserting that Cauayan will not tolerate any threat to the safety, security, and well-being of its people. Mayor Tabujara reassured that the municipal government is closely coordinating with the Armed Forces of the Philippines to secure the affected areas, protect the communities, and restore peace and order. He urged all Cauayanons to remain calm, vigilant, and cooperative with the uniformed personnel.
