Col. Oscar Lactao, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, said last night that the gunbattle lasted for about 40 minutes, and the fleeing rebels abandoned their personal belongings and camp, which could accommodate about 30 persons.

The NPA camp has four outposts with a fresh water source, Lactao said.

Lt. Col. Rodrigo Sosmena, 47th Infantry Battalion commander, said they received reports from residents that two injured rebels managed to escape with their fleeing comrades.

Sosmena said there was no reported injuries on the government side, while his troops are still scouring the immediate periphery of the encounter site.

Lactao said the rebels encountered by the soldiers were from the same group they had engaged in gunbattles on January 27 and 30 in barangays Camindangan and Manlocahoc, Sipalay City , that led to their seizing two NPA camps.

Killed in the January 27 Sipalay encounter was Donald Diligdilig, whose two brothers and father are also NPA members, military records showed.

Sosmena said the rebels who figured in encounters with Scout Rangers and 47IB soldiers were also behind the raid and destruction of the properties owned by two mining firms in Sipalay City, and the liquidation of civilians in southern Negros.* GPB

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