BACOLOD City – An encounter between soldiers of the Philippine Army’s 94th Infantry Battalion (IB) and suspected Communist Party of the Philippines – New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) guerrillas in Barangay Buenavista, Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental left two persons dead.
The clash took place while the soldiers were conducting security operations in the village on Tuesday afternoon, according to Brigadier General Inocencio Pasaporte, commander of the 303rd Infantry Brigade (IBde).
The fatalities were Florida “Kelly” Ceballos, alleged secretary of the NPA’s Central Negros 2, Komiteng Rehiyon-Negros, and Wifredo “Dino” Fuentes, alleged courier of Central Negros 2.
Their remains were brought to the city proper on Wednesday morning.
The 303IBde and the 94IB have yet to release photos of the fatalities.
Around 1 p.m. on Dec. 14, Army troops engaged about 10 communist rebels in Sitio Belo at the foot of Mt. Cansermon near the province’s border with Negros Oriental.
“They have been conducting security operations in the area. There was a series of incidents before the encounter,” said Pasaporte.
After the clash, the troops recovered two .45 and a .38 pistols with ammunition, two hand grenades, several mobile phones, subversive documents, and personal belongings.
The CPP-NPA is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines. (PNA)
