BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – The Ilog police station in Negros Occidental has identified two of the four New People’s Army (NPA) rebels killed in Tuesday’s gun battle in Barangay Tabug.
They were Christian “Han” Vargas and Joel “Timot” Fundador.
Vargas died while being treated at a hospital, while Fundador died on the spot at the encounter site.
The two other NPA rebels were only identified as Ka Nikki (female) and Ka George.
The captured NPA leader, meanwhile, has been identified as Nilda Natan Bertulano, a secretary for the NPA’s South West Front in Negros.
According to Police Lieutenant Colonel Ryan Manongdo, commander of the 6th Philippine National Police-Special Action Force Battalion, they also held 13 other people found in the encounter site for questioning.
However, 10 of the individuals were later freed; police said they had no involvement in the clash.
The three remaining individuals, meanwhile, were further questioned. They were being suspected as “newly recruited” NPA insurgents.
According to Manongdo, they responded to the area after receiving reports on Monday night about the NPA’s presence.
Following the clash, the Philippine Army and the Negros Occidental and Oriental police forces were placed on heightened alert.
Manongdo called on the families of the remaining NPA insurgents to use their influence and convince them to surrender “before it is too late”.
He also warned the NPA rebels they only have two options should they continue the armed struggle – either they “end up in cemetery or in prison.”/PN
