Government troops engaged with an alleged New People’s Army (NPA) member in Sitio Camboguiot, Barangay Camindangan, Sipalay City, leaving one person dead and sparking panic among residents, especially the elderly, at around 7:00 AM on Friday, January 10.
Lieutenant Colonel J-Jay Javines, Public Information Chief of the 3rd Infantry Division, told Brigada News FM Philippines that they have not yet identified the deceased.
However, he said that the deceased was a male, estimated to be between 50 and 60 years old, and belonged to the NPA’s Southwest Front, which the military considers dismantled.
Troops from the 15th Infantry Battalion engaged the armed group after receiving a tip about their presence in the area. The firefight lasted several minutes, he added.
The military recovered an M14 rifle, a backpack, personal belongings, and other documents from the scene. The military believes these items are subversive.
A video posted on Facebook captured residents panicking and calling for help as gunshots rang out in the background.
Reymund Titong is a Filipino journalist steadily building his voice in the field of news reporting, driven by a commitment to tell meaningful and relevant stories.
He serves as a correspondent for Rappler, contributes to Negros Daily Bulletin, and maintains a blog on Medium.