A series of armed clashes erupted again between government troopers and suspected New People’s Army rebels in Negros and Panay in recent days and led to the discovery and seizure of two abandoned rebel camps, the military said.

Troopers of the 61st Infantry Battalion pursuing rebels they had encountered Wednesday last week, discovered on April 12 the main regional headquarters of the Komiteng Rehiyonal-Panay and its satellite camp at the boundary of barangays Nayawan and Lahug in Tapaz town of Capiz.

Two days later, patrolling troopers of the 62nd Infantry Battalion also encountered a group of suspected rebels in Brgy. Pantao, Calatrava, Negros Occidental. The firefight lasted for five minutes, Col. Oscar Lactao, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, said.

However, there were no reports of casualties on both sides, and pursuit operations were still ongoing yesterday.

Maj. Enrico Gil Ileto, spokesman of the Army’s 3rd Infantry Division, said the chance encounter on April 11 in Tapaz, Capiz, between thenine Army soldiers composed of the Army’s Peace and Development Team led to the discovery of two abandoned rebel camps.

Ileto said the satellite camp can accommodate about 30 persons, and was constructed with improvised beddings and a firearms rack.

The main camp, estimated to have area of one hectare, is believed to be the headquarters of KR-Panay. It has 50 huts made of laminated sacks with improvised beddings and two kitchens. An empty magazine ofM-14 assault rifle, personal belongings and documents, appeared to be left behind hastily by its occupants.

Ileto said they suspect that the main camp was used in the assembly of improvised explosive devices (IED), including landmines, which the rebels had been using against government troopers in Panay.
Maj. Gen. Jose Mabanta, 3ID commander, who ordered of no let-up in the search for IEDs, said he does not want a repeat of the March 11 incident in Brgy. Tacayan, Capiz, where an explosive device being assembled by rebels prematurely exploded, and led to the death of a minor and injuries of her sister.*GPB

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