BACOLOD CITY - Soldiers of the Philippine Army's 79th Infantry (Masaligan) Battalion (IB) thwarted the attempt of remnants of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army (CPP-NPA) to recover their lost ground in the remote area of northern Negros Occidental on Wednesday. At around 6 a.m., the troops encountered some 10 communist rebels and eventually raided their hideout in Sitio Tinibyangan of Barangay Minapasuk, Calatrava town. 1Lt. Dansan Camua, civil-military operations officer of the 79IB, said residents informed the troops about sightings of armed men, who were also trying to ask for food. Government forces conducted security operations after receiving the reports, he added. No casualty has been reported on the government side but heavy bloodstains were seen on the withdrawal route of the rebels, according to the 79IB report. As of press time, troops were still conducting clearing and pursuit operations. In a radio interview, Brig. Gen. Inocencio Pasaporte, c