LSN News › Philippines

Politics · Philippines Bureau

Militiaman killed, soldiers wounded in Negros Occidental ambush

An armed group attacked military personnel conducting a security patrol in Escalante City on Tuesday, leaving one government militia member dead and two soldiers injured. The incident marks renewed violence in the restive province.

LSN Philippines · 30 September 2026

A government-armed auxiliary member was killed and two soldiers sustained injuries following an attack by an unidentified armed group in Escalante City, Negros Occidental, the military confirmed Wednesday. The assault occurred Tuesday afternoon as personnel from the 79th Infantry Battalion's Mobile Community Support and Sustainment Program (MCSSP) conducted a routine security patrol in Sitio Bautista, Barangay Malasibog. The attackers opened fire on the patrol without warning, prompting military personnel to return fire before securing the area. The slain militiaman and injured soldiers were immediately evacuated for medical treatment. Army officials did not immediately identify the armed group responsible for the attack or provide details on the circumstances preceding the confrontation. The incident underscores ongoing security challenges in Negros Occidental, where various armed groups have conducted sporadic operations against government forces in recent months.