BY GLENDA SOLOGASTOA
ILOILO City – Was the man who died during the encounter between government troops and the New People’s Army (NPA) in Barangay Mayang, Tubungan, Iloilo on July 17 really a rebel?
The Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) has no conclusion yet.
Residents said Gerardo Labo, 39, was a familiar civilian in their village with no connection to the rebel movement.
It was possible that Labo just happened to be where the rebels and government troops exchanged fire.
Government troops found Labo’s body during a post-encounter clearing operation. He had a gunshot wound on the head.
A 12-gauge homemade shotgun was recovered near Labo.
The PRO-6’s Scene of the Crime Operatives has not yet released an official report on the incident.
But according to Major Ray Tiongson, spokesperson of the Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division, Labo was a suspected rebel, though it had not yet been validated.
On Thursday, the Army’s 82nd Infantry Battalion and a team from a humanitarian organization had just performed a medical mission in Barangay Paga, Leon when armed men strafed them around 3:45 p.m.
The firefight lasted for five minutes./PN
