This, after the Philippine Army told the city’s Incident Management Team (IMT) that Sitios Medel, Campayas and Sig-ang at Barangay Carabalan have already been cleared of insurgents, Mayor Raymund Tongson said on Wednesday, October 19.
Tongson said that the IMT immediately prepared the needs of the residents to make it easier for them when they return home.
The residents were given food packs and other donated goods, he said, adding that they were also subjected to a medical health check-up and were given vitamins and other medicines.
Tongson noted that the city government provided the returning residents with transportation.
The mayor thanked all those who helped and assisted the evacuees as he called on Himamaylanons “to remain united amid whatever adversities.”
For his part, Brigadier General Inocencio Pasaporte, commander of 303rd Infantry Brigade (IB), said the three sitios in the hinterland areas of Himamaylan City have already been cleared of rebels.
Pasaporte also announced that they have ceased their operations.
The sporadic clashes at the hinterlands of Barangay Carabalan resulted in the deaths of six soldiers and rebel-leader Romeo Nanta as well as injuries to six other government troop members.*