Soldier, 3 rebels killed in Negros Occidental clash

BACOLOD CITY – A soldier and three rebels were killed in a clash between the Army troops and New People’s Army (NPA) in Barangay Buenavista, Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental Thursday, the military reported Friday.

The Army’s 303rd Infantry Brigade (IBde) identified the slain soldier as Pfc. Joel G. Farinas, who was shot in the chest and leg.

Wounded were his comrades Sgt. Froilan J. Tosalem, and Cpl. Oliver V.

Porten. Tosalem had a bullet wound on the left knee and Porten on left hand.

Brig. Gen. Benedict Arevalo, 303rd IBde commander, said troops from the 62nd Infantry Battalion (IB) engaged the rebel group for 30 minutes before the rebels retreated, taking their three dead companions with them.

Arevalo said there were bloodstains at the encounter site confirming that the insurgents had suffered casualties.

He said several rebels were also wounded in the encounter.

Recovered from the battle site were 500 grenade launcher shells, M14 and M16 rifles and an M60 machine gun and electrical wires for rigging an antipersonnel landmine into an improvised explosive device (IED).

The encounter was the 12th between the Army troops and the NPA, and the third encounter at Barangay Buenavista since last January, Arevalo said.

The 62nd IB first fought with rebels in Buenavista last April 9, during which seven soldiers were wounded.

Another battle took place on May 4, which led to the arrest of a 13-year-old boy, who was alleged to be a member of the revolutionary movement.