Soldiers clashed again with suspected members of the New People’s Army in Talalak, Sta. Catalina town, Negros Oriental, at around 10:15 a.m. Tuesday, Capt. Anecito Naz, civil military operations officer of the 302nd Infantry Brigade, said yesterday.

No casualties were reported on both sides, Naz said.

Troops led by 2Lt. Jan Batay-an of the 32nd Division Reconnaissance Company encountered five armed men, in sitio Avocado, Talalak, in a firefight that lasted for five minutes before the suspected rebels withdrew, leaving behind their belongings. Recovered were one bandoleer with four magazines of M-14 rifles and five rounds of ammunition, one hand grenade, suspected subversive documents and personal items, the military said.

He said he believes the armed men were the same ones encountered by soldiers of the 79th Infantry Battalion in sitio Estakahan, Apoloy, Siaton town recently. They are believed to be members of the Sentro de Gravidad Platoon “Robinsons” of the NPA’s Komiteng Rehiyonal Sentral Bisayas-South East Front.

These clashes show that Negrenses are cooperating with the military by providing information on the presence of armed men in their communities, Naz also said.*JFP

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