Vigilant civilians playing a vital role in fight against rebels in Negros

Items recovered after the encounter in Barangay Tan-awan, Kabankalan City on Wednesday, October 09, 2019. | photo courtesy of 62nd IB

Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental—With the continued help of vigilant civilians, Brigadier General Eric Vinoya, the Commander of the Joint Task Force (JTF) Negros, is confident the insurgency problems in Negros Island will be put to an end soon.

Vinoya highlighted the efforts of civilians in helping the government forces track down enemies of the state by reporting presence of armed men in their locality.

On Wednesday night, October 9, 2019, another firefight happened between a joint police-military force and suspected rebels in barangay Tan-awan, Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental.

Read: Joint police-military force clash with suspected NPAs in Kabankalan City

Vinoya explained that it is the Negrenses’ will to end the insurgency which gives civilians the courage to report to proper authorities the presence of armed men.  Because of the accurate information given to proper authorities, security forces were able to engage the rebels in the past few days.

“Sunod-sunod nating natatamaan ang mga kalaban dahil sa eksaktong impormasyon na binibigay ng mga mamamayan. Ang kanilang pagtulong ay nagpapahiwatig ng kanilang kagustuhan na matuldukan na ang deka-dekadang pagmamalupit sa kanila ng mga teroristang CPP-NPA,” Vinoya said in a statement. 

The 62nd Infantry (Unifier) Battalion reported  that while their troops were conducting joint combat operation with the Technical Support Company of the PNP’s Regional Mobile Group 6, they encountered more or less ten communist-terrorists at around 8:20 p.m. on Wednesday in Sitio Basak, Barangay Tan-awan in Kabankalan City. 

The encounter lasted for about 15 minutes, and after which the terrorist group withdrew towards the northeast direction of the village carrying their dead comrade. The casualty on the enemy’s side was confirmed by the civilian informant as supported by the traces of bloodstains found near the group’s abandoned position. 

A police patrolman was also slightly wounded on his right leg but already in stable condition, a statement of the JTF-Negros said.

Recovered after the encounter were 1 rifle grenade; two magazines of AK47; 117 rounds 7.62 live ammo; two pairs rain boots; firing “electrical” wires of IED; medical kit with paraphernalia and various medicines; two  batteries; one pouch; and two backpacks with personal belongings.

Vinoya added the firefight in Tan-awan, Kabankalan City “is the third blow of the task force against the communist-terrorists. “

He warned the rebels to expect more intensive combat operations in the coming weeks, saying he won’t hesitate to use the air and naval assets of the government to flush out the remaining rebels. /bmjo