MORE troops of the Philippine Army were dispatched to the municipalities of Calatrava and Toboso in Negros Occidental after the encounter with suspected members of New People's Army (NPA) in Toboso Thursday, June 22.
Lieutenant Colonel Darrell Bañez, commander of 62nd Infantry Battalion based in northern Negros, said on Friday, June 23, that additional military forces were augmented for intensified internal security operations.
Bañez said there were sightings of armed men in some areas in the two towns but upon site inspection, it turned out to be negative.
"We are continuously conducting pursuit operations against them," Bañez added.
Government forces engaged in a 15-minute firefight with the rebels at Barangay Bug-ang, Toboso that reportedly resulted to the deaths of two NPA members.
After the encounter, troops recovered a .45 caliber pistol, hand grenade, subversive documents, two NPA flags, medical kits, back packs, and some personal belongings.
Bañez still cannot confirm if the ambush in Calatrava town prior to the encounter was perpetrated by the same rebels.
On Thursday morning, a sugarcane planter and his driver were killed in an ambush at Barangay Minapasuk.
Norberto Lumayno, 67, and Danilo Braga, 45, were on their way to the farm when about 15 unidentified armed men riddled their vehicle with bullets.
Nearby residents heard the armed men shouting "Mabuhay ang NPA" (long live NPA).
Police is still investigating the incident that they initially suspected to be due to a land conflict.
