BACOLOD City – The Philippine Army’s 47th Infantry Battalion (47IB) neutralized an alleged six-man squad of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Barangay Tabugon, Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental on Thursday night, Sept. 21.
While five of the fatalities have been identified solely by their aliases – “Bravo/Peter” (alleged squad leader), “Goring/Rico” (squad medic), “Recoy”, “Brendo/Kenneth”, and “Diane” (purported wife of “Bravo”) – the sixth individual was identified as Ruben Gaitan, a tricycle driver residing in Purok Lubi within the same village.
According to Brigadier General Joey Escanillas, commander of the 302nd Infantry Brigade (303IBde), government troops were conducting security operations in the area when they encountered the alleged rebels traveling in a tricycle.
An initial exchange of gunfire ensued, with the rebels initiating the attack. The soldiers responded defensively.
The confrontation lasted approximately five to 10 minutes.
Following the encounter, Army personnel recovered four .45 pistols, a .38 revolver, a fragmentation grenade, subversive documents, and personal belongings at the scene.
As of the latest information, Gaitan’s remains had already been claimed by his wife, who vehemently denied his involvement with communist insurgents.
She asserted that Gaitan was employed by the Southern Negros Development Corporation and worked as a construction laborer when not operating his tricycle service. (Watchmen Daily Journal)/PN
