A soldier and three suspected members of the New People’s Army (NPA) were killed in two separate encounters in Negros Oriental during the weekend.
Two members of the suspected rebels thrown a fragmentation grenade inside the patrol base of the Philippine Army’s 12th Infantry Batallion (12IB) in Barangay Talalak, Sta. Catalina past 5 a.m. on Friday.
According to the Sta. Catalina Police, these armed men attacked the patrol base.
One of those rebels killed in the encounter was identified as Antonio Cardinas.
Meanwhile, a soldier was the recent fatality in the encounter that took place in Barangay Bantolinao, Manjuyod town on Saturday.
Corporal Leoter Cagape of the Philippine Army’s 94th Infantry Battalion (94IB) succumbed to gunshot wounds while to other comrades were hurt. They were Private First Class Cris Emmanuel Paja and Private Debyl Reyes.
The firefight also resulted in the killing of an armed rebel and the arrest of three suspected members of the rebel group.
In a media interview on Monday morning, Brig. Gen. Ignacio Madriaga, 302nd Brigade commander, said they identified the rebel groups belonging to the Leonardo Panaligan and Apolinario Gatmaytan groups.
