A soldier was killed while two others and three police officers were wounded in armed actions mounted by the New People’s Army (NPA) in Masbate and Negros Occidental in the past weeks.

A people’s militia unit fired upon a police counterinsurgency unit at Sitio Kampoon, Barangay Batuhan, Masbate City on the night of September 3. At least three police officers were wounded in the armed action.

The said barangay and adjacent communities in Masbate have long been subjected to military and police control. They occupy barangays under the veil of the Retooled Community Support Program. This causes extreme distress to the peaceful livelihood of peasants and residents.

In Negros Occidental, Red fighters of NPA-Central Negros fired upon 62nd IB troops operating at Purok Tumpok, Barangay Riverside in Isabela on August 30. The said troops were resting when they were attacked by the NPA around 9:30 p.m.

NPA-Central Negros reports that a soldier was killed while two others were wounded. Terrified, the troops of the 62nd IB scampered in various directions. They also concealed the number of casualties among their ranks.

Meanwhile, NPA-West Cagayan reported the death of eight 17th IB soldiers in an encounter in Barangay Sicalao, Lasam, Cagayan on July 23. The NPA unit safely maneuvered away after the armed encounter.