Two rebels captured, two killed, six wounded

BACOLOD CITY — Two suspected New People's Army (NPA) guerillas were captured by the military and nine firearms were seized following three encounters in Toboso town and Sagay City, both in Negros Occidental, two on Saturday and one on Sunday.

Military reports gathered from civilians also revealed that two rebels were killed while six others were wounded in the encounters, said Major Ray Tiongson, head of the Public Affairs Division of the 3rd Infantry Division based in Capiz province, in a statement yesterday.

Two of the encounters happened on Saturday, first at 4:45 a.m., and then at 7:30 a.m. Arrested on that day were alleged rebels Rene Villarin and Richard Gallego, said Tiongson, adding that no one was injured from the government troops.

Based on a report of 1st Lt Jimrhic Obias, civil-military operations officer of the 303rd Infantry Brigade based in Murcia, Negros Occidental, the first encounter took place when members of the 62nd Infantry Battalion of the Army and the 6th Special Action Battalion of the PNP were conducting peace and security patrol at sitio Magtuod in Brgy. Bug-ang of Toboso and sitio Dalia in Brgy. Puey of Sagay City.

About 17 rebels allegedly opened fire at troops, and the ensuing firefight lasted for about 10 minutes, after which the rebels fled. While the authorities were pursuing the rebels, the second clash took place. It lasted for another 10 minutes, afterwards the rebels withdrew towards Bug-ang, but left behind their two comrades, said Obias.

The government troops found Villarin and Gallego hiding with their firearms, Obias said. The two, while having no injury, were treated humanely and apprised of their constitutional rights, and then rushed to Brgy. Bato Clinic in Sagay City for medical check-up, he said.

Obias told The FREEMAN the two are now in custody of the Toboso Police, awaiting filing of appropriate charges, among them is illegal possession of firearms.

In the third encounter last Sunday, government troops recovered four more high powered firearms after another five-minute encounter with the fleeing rebels. Seized were three M-14s and an AK-47 rifle, 114 rounds of ammunition for M-14 rifle, 32 rounds of ammunition for AK-47 and a backpack with personal items. All in all, the government troops recovered a total of nine firearms.

The armed encounter came only two days after the Provincial Peace Integration and Development Unit launched the second phase of the "Winning the Peace" campaign in Toboso town.