By J. Jala | Posted on April 26, 2020
An undetermined number of alleged members of the New People’s Army (NPA) clashed with soldiers in Bilar town at noon time today, April 26.
According to Lieutenant Grace Remonde, the civil-military officer of the 47th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army, the clash happened a day prior to the scheduled distribution of the government’s Social Amelioration Program (SAP).
Remonde said their soldiers were deployed in the area as they need to secure the SAP distribution.
However, they also received reports that alleged armed men believed to be NPAs were in the barangay demanding food from the villagers who are affected by the quarantine.
At past 12:30 p.m., when soldiers were patrolling the village of Barangay Cambigsi, they spotted the alleged NPA members who were alleged to be “heavily armed”.
Remonde said the rebels shot first the soldiers prompting the latter to return fire.
Hot pursuit is still ongoing, she added.