Himamaylan gov’t gives more assistance to evacuees

The City of Himamaylan released more assistance to evacuees who fled from several areas in the city’s hinterlands where clashes between communist rebels and government troops kept occurring since Thursday.

As this developed, the Philippine Army said there were also casualties on the part of the New People’s Army during the series of encounters in the farflung sitios of the city.

Mayor Raymund Tongson told newsmen the city government will continue to provide food and other assistance not only while the evacuees are in the centers.

He said that while the PA is at the moment exerting efforts to deal with the current insurgency situation in the isolated upland communities, projects and programs intended in the affected areas will be continued.

On it’s part, the Army’s 303rd Infantry Brigade (303IBde) formally identified the casualties involved in last Saturday’s encounter with the terrorist New People’s Army (NPA) in Himamaylan.

The fatalities were identified as Corporal Christian Drilon, a native of San Enrique town in Iloilo, and Corporal Rex Verde, a native of Guimaras province.

The six wounded soldiers were named as Corporal Joey Gardose, Private First Class (PFC) Rolly Rama, PFC June Fuentes, PFC Lander, Private Wilchor Recaña and Sergeant Edgiel Ucag.

All eight are members of the 94th Infantry Battalion (94IB).

Based on information released by the 303IBde, a follow-up search made by government forces yielded assorted ammunition, firearms, gun parts, backpacks containing the rebels’ personal belongings, and subversive documents.

The 303IBde also said an undetermined number of NPA insurgents were also killed in the running gunbattle, with dozens also believed to be wounded as evidenced by the traces of blood in the combat zone.

Clearing and hot pursuit operations are still ongoing.

Brigadier General Inocencio Pasaporte, commander of the 303IBde, condoles with the families of the two soldiers for paying the ultimate sacrifice for the peace and security of Himamaylan and the rest of Negros island.

Meanwhile, in a report released by the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) of Negros Occidental, as of 9 a.m. today, a total of 15,024 residents of Barangays Carabalan, Cabadiangan, and 3 were evacuated due to the ongoing combat operations in the area.

Based on a copy of the report which had been forwarded to Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, the Department of Social Welfare and Development in Western Visayas (DSWD-6) is closely coordinating with Himamaylan City’s social welfare and development office for the immediate relief assistance to the affected families.

The local social welfare office under the Himamaylan government is also ready to distribute more relief assistance once the soldiers have cleared the venues for distribution.

Among augmented food items sent to the evacuees include sacks of rice, family food packs, boxes of fortified meals, boxes of corned beef, boxes of beef loaf, and boxes of arroz caldo.

The combat operations in the area of Barangay Carabalan began last October 6 when the 94IB stumbled into the NPA’s harboring area.

A total of four running gun battles occured between Thursday and Saturday.* (RGB)