BACOLOD CITY: Two suspected rebels were killed while two Army soldiers were injured in a series of armed skirmishes in Binalbagan and Isabela, and Escalante Negros Occidental on Thursday, April 20. Col. Orlando Edralin, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, said that the first encounter took place between 15 NPA members and the 62nd Infantry Battalion (62IB), which started at about 2:30 a.m. in Barangay Camang-Camang, Isabela. Two more encounters ensued in Barangay Santol, Binalbagan, as the 94th Infantry Battalion (94IB) joined the 62IB in the conduct of pursuit operations, Edralin said. The identity of the slain rebel has not been established, while pursuit operations against the fleeing ones are still underway as of press time. Another NPA member also died in another encounter in Escalante City. Two soldiers of the 79IB were also injured in the gun battle. Recovered were the cadaver of a slain rebel, an M14 assault rifle, three rifle grenades and three 40mm grenade launcher ammunition. The latest gun battle took place two days after an encounter also ensued in Barangay Quintin Remo, Moises Padilla, which killed rebel leader Jose Albores, a member of the Leonardo Panaligan Command. Reports claimed that Albores heads a 'kangaroo court' responsible for the conviction of numerous civilians tagged as military informants. Also recovered from the encounter site were KG9 automatic assault pistol, a hand grenade and personal belongings. In a statement, MGen. Marion Sison, 3rd Infantry Division commander, commended the 62nd, 94th, and 79th IBs for their relentless anti-insurgency effort that resulted in successful combat operations in Negros.
