A suspected New People’s Army red fighter died, while a member of the Philippine Army suffered minor gunshot wounds, in two armed engagements yesterday in Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental.

The encounters also led to the discovery of a rebel camp its occupants abandoned while Army soldiers pursued the fleeing rebels, Maj. Rey Tiongson, 3rd Infantry Division spokesman, said.

After more than 20 minutes of gunbattle, the rebels fled, leaving behind their slain companion, whose identity is being withheld by the 11th Infantry Battalion, pending notification of his next of kin.

A KG9 sub-machine gun, a hammock and four backpacks containing personal belongings, assorted medicines, training materials and subversive documents were recovered at the encounter site.

The injured soldier, PFC Jennifer Carbajosa, who was hit in the forehead, is now in a stable condition, Tiongson said.

The rebel encampment discovered by the 11IB consisted of a training area with makeshift structures, a kitchen and foxholes.

The encounters in sitios Magkaatip and Nabuswangan, all in Barangay Mani-ac, Guihulngan, were an offshoot of information relayed to the 11th Infantry Battalion soldiers about the presence of armed rebels in a creek.

Col. Jon Aying, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, who is now supervising the 11IB security operations in central Negros, expressed his appreciation for the timely information relayed by civilians to the troops.

Last month, suspected rebels waylaid and killed a barangay chairman and his wife in Brgy. Tinayunan Hill, and also summarily executed a member of the Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit in Brgy. Linantuyan, all in Guihulngan City.

Angered by the incidents, Aying said, civilians reported the presence of armed rebels in their barangay, and this led to the two encounters.

Lt. Col. Paulito Idul, 11IB commander, said bloodstains were also seen along the escape routes of the rebels, indicating that more could have been injured in the gunbattle.

1Lt. Chino Cornelio led his men in the gunbattle with suspected NPA members.

Maj. Gen. Rey Leonardo Guerrero, 3ID commanding general, in a statement he issued, reminded troops to strictly follow the rule of law, while pursuing members of lawless groups.*GPB

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