Armed skirmishes between Army soldiers and suspected New People’s Army rebels erupted anew yesterday in Candoni, Negros Occidental.

Troopers of the 2nd Scout Ranger Company headed by 1Lt. Michael Castro were on combat patrol in Sitio Laguting, Brgy. Cabia-an, Candoni, when they clashed with a group of armed rebels at about 1 p.m. yesterday.

The Philippine Air Force sent two helicopter gunships to assist soldiers pursuing the fleeing rebels, Capt. Leo Christopher Cunanan, 303rd Infantry Brigade Civil Military Operations chief, said.

Cunanan said the gunbattle lasted for almost five minutes, and the rebels reportedly led by a certain Reniel Cellon, alias Kumpol, later scampered in various directions.

No casualty was reported on either side so far, he added.

Two weeks ago, a suspected NPA member died, and three others, an Army soldier, policeman and a civilian, were injured in two encounters in Moises Padilla and Escalante City, Negros Occidental. * GPB

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