BACOLOD CITY – Two suspected New People’s Army (NPA) members were killed after they allegedly stormed a Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU) detachment at Sitio Kakha, Barangay Talalak, in Sta. Catalina, Negros Oriental early Friday.
The names of the fatalities were not provided.
A report from the 3rd Infantry Division (ID) said about 10 armed men attacked the detachment at 4:55 a.m. It prompted the members of the 94th Infantry Battalion (IB) to retaliate.
The firefight lasted for 30 minutes. No injuries were reported on the government side.
Military troops recovered from the scene three magazines and 25 ammunition of M16; three ammunition of M14; an unexploded hand grenade; electrical wire; an empty shell of M203; a bandolier; assorted medicines; and other personal belongings.
Maj. Gen. Dinoh Dolina, Army 3rd ID commander based in Jamindan, Capiz, in a press statement, said: “This is another cowardly act of anti-people, anti-peace, and anti-development communist-terrorists who are desperate enough to hamper the peace and security efforts of our troops in the area.”
“Unfortunately, they failed to do so, since our troops managed to counter the attack. This clearly shows that our troops are always ready for any attack and prepared to defend the people at all times,” Dolina said. “That’s why I am always telling our troops to never stop hunting the traitors to prevent them from destroying not only peace and development but also innocent lives of the Negrenses,” he added.
Dolina reiterated his call to the remaining members of the NPA to lay down their arms, abandon the armed movement, and embrace the culture of peace.
The town of Sta. Catalina, along with other municipalities in Negros Oriental, used to be the hotbed of the NPA in eastern Negros, taking advantage of the poor economic situation of the populace. (Glazyl Masculino)
