2 soldiers injured in clash with NPA

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — Two soldiers were injured Thursday in a gun battle with New People's Army rebels in Himamaylan City, while the Air Force Huey helicopter made an emergency landing in nearby Hinigaran town in Negros Occidental, after airlifting them to a hospital here.

Captain Ruel Llanes, 303rd Infantry Brigade spokesman, yesterday clarified that the Air Force chopper made an emergency landing, due to engine trouble and not because of being hit by bullets during the encounter at Barangay Carabalan in Himamaylan City.

No one was hurt among the two pilots and two door gunners of the helicopter, said Llanes, adding that the two wounded soldiers, who were airlifted, were immediately discharged from a hospital, after treatment of their minor injuries.

The NPA rebels encountered by 62nd Infantry Battalion soldiers were believed to be occupants of a large NPA training camp seized on December 5 at Brgy. Buenavista, also in Himamaylan City.

The running gunbattle lasted for 30 minutes and the rebels withdrew toward separate directions, leaving behind traces of bloodstains along their escape routes, according to Llanes.

Lieutenant Colonel Darryl Banez, 62nd IB commander, said he had dispatched more troops to the area to block the exit points of the fleeing rebels.

Colonel Eliezer Losanes, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, lauded the cooperation of residents in Buenavista and Carabalan villages in Himamaylan City, who provided them information on the presence of armed rebels in their respective areas. (FREEMAN)