Negros town villagers flee homes amid AFP-NPA clashes

Bacolod City, Philippines — Around 65 families evacuated their homes as New People’s Army (NPA) rebels clashed with Army soldiers in Sitio Ulo-Tuburan in Barangay Buenavista in Himamaylan, Negros Occidental on Wednesday.

The clash between soldiers belonging to the 94th Infantry Battalion and members of the Sentro De Grabidad Platoon of Central Negros 2 under the Komiteng Rehiyonal Negros/Cebu/Bohol/Siquijor left an NPA rebel dead and two soldiers wounded.

A civilian was also wounded after being hit by a stray bullet.

Capt. Raymart Africa, acting civil-military operations officer of the 303rd Infantry Brigade, identified the fatality as Crispin Tingal.

Africa said an M653 assault rifle with magazine, assorted bullets, a 12-gauge shotgun and a .38-caliber revolver were among those recovered during clearing operations.