NPA attack on Kabankalan City army detachment leaves one wounded

Rebels reportedly retreated to Himamaylan City

At least one soldier was wounded after a Philippine Army 62nd Infantry Battalion (62IB) detachment was attacked Thursday night by the New People’s Army (NPA) in Barangay Hilamonan, Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental.

303rd Infantry Brigade commander, Colonel Benedict Arevalo, identified the wounded as Corporal Andin Jamison, a member of the 62IB B Company.

According to the colonel, between seven to nine rebels attacked the detachment at around 7:45 p.m.

A 15-minute gun battle ensued, which ended with the rebels falling back in the direction of Barangay Buenavista, Himamaylan City.

Jamison sustained a gunshot wound to the right thigh and was rushed

to the Kabankalan District Hospital for treatment.

Arevalo said he suspects the NPA harassment was revenge for the 62IB’s capture of an NPA hideout in neighboring Himamaylan City earlier this month.

The battalion earlier stumbled upon an alleged NPA hideout while conducting combat operations to prevent rebels from engaging in extortion and terrorist activities against local communities.

Both police and the army are presently conducting hot pursuit operations against the rebels.

(PIO photo / Story inside) Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia, alongside Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas officials, broke ground earlier this week on the central bank’s new branch in Bacolod City’s reclamation area.