EVACUEES. Residents of Purok Malipayon, Barangay San Jose in Sipalay City, Negros Occidental seek shelter at an evacuation site inside Binulig Elementary School after they were displaced following an encounter between the Philippine Army's 15th Infantry Battalion troops and New People's Army rebels on Wednesday afternoon. On Thursday (Jan. 19, 2023), some 210 individuals from 53 families have been evacuated, based on the report of the City Social Welfare and Development Office.(Photo courtesy of Sipalay City-LGU) BACOLOD CITY - Hundreds of residents were displaced while classes in three schools in Sipalay City, Negros Occidental were suspended on Thursday following two armed clashes between the Philippine Army's 15th Infantry Battalion (IB) troops and New People's Army (NPA) rebels. 2Lt. Weann Sandag, civil-military operations of 15IB, told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) that the first encounter took place around Wednesday noon in the hinterlands of Barangay Camalanda