Government troopers yesterday encountered about 40 New People's Army rebels believed responsible for the recent raid and bombing of the new airport in Silay City, Negros Occidental.

Col. Gregorio Fajardo, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, yesterday said the encounters between soldiers and rebels reportedly members of the NPA Larangan Gerilya 3 in Brgy. Cruz, Calatrava, led to the recovery of two M-16 assault rifles, a FAL Jet 7.62 assault rifle, a homemade shotgun, a hand-held radio set and subversive documents.

The LG 3 unit of the New People's Army was among those identified by the military to have participated in the raid of the Silay airport on Sunday.

Fajardo said sporadic gunbattles in Brgy. Cruz, Calatrava also caused injuries to some rebels, as indicated by the discovery of bloodstains along their withdrawal routes, and who also left behind their firearms. The army's elite Scout Rangers are joining Task Group North soldiers in the manhunt of rebels who had successfully raided the Silay airport, took 21 firearms of security guards and inflicted damages of about P50 million, the military said.

Fajardo said armed skirmishes were still raging last night as soldiers pressed their manhunt operations against the fleeing rebels.

A platoon-sized Army unit is now securing the Silay airport, complimented by troopers of the 6th Regional Mobile Group, as ordered by AFP chief Hermogenes Esperon.

Senior Supt. Rosendo Franco, provincial police director of Negros Occidental, said they expect to file charges against the rebel raiders tomorrow.*GPB

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