Army’s Bayanihan teams on peace works clash with NPA

By Jennifer C. Tilos

Thursday 2nd of August 2012

DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental, Aug 2 (PIA) -- Army’s Bayanihan teams have figured in two separate encounters with rebels recently while on their peace and development works and reconnaissance patrol.

1Lt Roel Morales Jr of the 302 infantry brigade said the army personnel came across groups of armed men believed to be members of the New People’s Army- Komiteng Rehiyon-Sentral Bisayas at Barangay Nagbinlod, Sta Catalina, Negros Oriental and Barangay Quintin Remo in Moises Padilla, Negros Occidental.

The Bayanihan team was conducting peace and development works in Barangay Quintin Remo when the rebels fired on the soldiers,
wounding of the team leader, Corporal Edward Rubite, Morales said.

In Barangay Nagbinlod, “the firefight lasted for almost 20 minutes leading the enemies to withdraw towards southeast direction. No casualty was reported on the government side while undetermined on the enemy side," Morales said.

The Army is in hot pursuit of the fleeing rebels, the army officer added.

According to Morales, ammunition and armaments have been recovered in the area.

However, despite series of encounters, the Bayanihan of the AFP works as residents are really optimistic in winning the peace through convergence of efforts for peace and progress, Morales said.

“This shows that people are now aware that they have to be involved and must take part in addressing the insurgency problem in Negros. The series of encounters showed that the residents in Negros really cooperated with the military by putting up a strong social pressure by providing information on the presence of armed group and compelling them to abandon their armed struggle,” Morales added. (mbcn/JCT-PIA 7, Negros Oriental)