Villagers evacuate amid air strikes vs rebels
BACOLOD CITY: Residents from several villages in the town of Toboso and city of Escalante in Negros Occidental were evacuated after the Philippine Army’s 79th Infantry Battalion (79IB) called in attack helicopters from the Philippine Air Force (PAF) to pummel the remnants of the dismantled New People’s Army (NPA) Northern Negros Front in Sitio Mansulao, Barangay Pinapugasan, Escalante City on Thursday night, Feb. 22, 2024.
Philippine Army 3rd Infantry Division (3ID) spokesman Lt. Col. Jjay Javines said two PAF AgustaWestland AW109 helicopters provided the air support to the ground soldiers at around 7:35 p.m.
Videos posted on social media showed PAF choppers striking rebel positions with machine guns and rocket fire.
During the strikes, the 79IB also pounded the area using the forward guns.Javines said a risk assessment was made prior to the strikes to prevent civilian casualties.
A total of eight clashes have already been recorded in the area since Wednesday, after the 79IB received information from civilians that NPA rebels were spotted extorting food and supplies from the residents.
At least three rebels have been killed in the clashes while four soldiers, including a member of the Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit, were wounded.
Due to the escalating anti-insurgency operations, Toboso town Mayor Maddonah Jaojoco declared on Thursday night the suspension of classes in all levels in the town until further notice.
Escalante City Mayor Melecio Yap Jr., also declared the suspension of classes in the elementary and high school levels in the villages of Libertad, Pinapugasan, Binaguiohan, Paitan, Dian-ay, Magsaysay, Malasibog, and Tamlang.
In the town of Toboso, more than 400 residents of Sitio Mainit and Sitio Mansulao in Barangay San Isidro have been evacuated.
The local officials in the town provided food and shelter to the evacuees.Councilor Richard Jaojoco said they are expecting more residents living near the encounter site to evacuate their homes and stay on safer grounds. He also noted that at around 8 a.m. on Friday, he saw several PAF helicopters still circling the area.
In Escalante City, Barangay Pinapugasan village chief Edgar Rapana said the Thursday night strikes in the area caused some alarm among the local residents, although only residents living near where the airstrikes occurred fled their homes.
“We cannot see the helicopters because it was dark, they were not using any lights. However, we know they were above us because of the noise and the tracers they create whenever they fire their weapons,” Rapana said.
Rapana said the airstrikes lasted between 10 and 15 minutes, and although the situation for the rest of the evening went quiet, he said the local residents were told to remain in their homes for their safety.
The evacuated residents in the village, meanwhile, are staying at the local evacuation center.
The Department of Social Welfare Development (DSWD), together with the Escalante Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office have delivered food, medical supplies, mosquito nets, and blankets to the affected residents.
Rapana added that the residents who have been evacuated are barred from returning to their homes until the 79IB deems the area safe.