BACOLOD City – Two suspected members of the New People’s Army (NPA) died in an encounter with government forces in Purok Yuring, Sitio Dash 7, Barangay Bulwangan, Hinoba-an, Negros Occidental on Saturday, April 17.
The 40-minute firefight ensued between the Philippine Army’s 15th Infantry Battalion (15IB) and NPA cadres allegedly from Platoon 3, Southwest Front of Kilusang Rehiyon Negros Cebu Bohos Siquihor (KR-NCBS).
The military identified the fatalities only by their aliases, Micheal/Nonoy and Ken-ken. Their remains were brought to a local mortuary.
Recovered from the encounter site were two .45-caliber pistols with magazines and ammunition, a hand grenade, extortion letters, subversive documents, cellphones, and personal belongings.
No casualties were recorded on the part of the government forces, the military said.
The 15IB, while conducting a Community Support Program (CSP) sustainment operations in Hinoba-an town, acted on the report of NPA presence in the area.
Lieutenant Colonel Erwin Cariño, commanding officer of the 15IB, expressed gratitude to Bulwangan residents for giving them the heads up.
“The encounter was a clear result of the collaborative effort of the government and the community. It manifested the success and gains of our CSPs and expressed the desire of the community to be free from communist terrorist group terroristic infiltration and influence in their locality,” Cariño said.
“We extend our condolences to the bereaved family of the two NPA terrorists who lost their lives in fighting for a lost cost. With the help of the local government of Hinoba-an, we can assure the assistance and decent burial of the deceased,” he added.
Meanwhile, Colonel Leonardo Peña, 302nd Brigade commander, is encouraging NPA rebels to peacefully surrender now.
“Our government is always open to help and assist the remaining NPA rebels… It is better for them to embrace peace as they are no longer welcome in the community. The people of Negros have been longing for peace and progress for a better and brighter future of their children,” Peña said./PN
