BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – An alleged member of the New People’s Army (NPA) died in an encounter with government troops in Barangay Macagahay, Moises Padilla, Negros Occidental.
Authorities identified the slain suspected insurgent as Rio Jacaba, believed to be a member of the NPA’s Yunit Militia based in central Negros.
According to the Philippine Army’s 303rd Infantry Brigade (303IB), Jacaba, along with his two comrades, engaged in a firefight with soldiers of the 62nd Infantry Battalion in Sitio Arum in Barangay Macagahay.
Jacaba died instantly while two of his comrades retreated to unknown directions.
Army Captain Kelvin Bayaban, 303IB Civil Military Operations officer, said local residents reported to authorities the presence of three suspicious individuals believed to be NPA insurgents.
The 62IB immediately sent a patrol in the area. A gun-battle ensued.
Recovered from the encounter site were a .45-caliber pistol, a black holster, spent .45-caliber cartridges, and subversive documents.
The Moises Padilla police later arrived to retrieve Jacaba’s remains.
For his part, Army Colonel Inocencio Pasaporte, 303IB commander, lauded residents of Barangay Macagahay for their vigilance.
Pasaporte said the town’s Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict will unify and harmonize peace and development efforts with the different stakeholders to end the local communist armed conflict in Moises Padilla.
“We will ensure that this [NPA’s] intimidation and extortion activities are halted,” the Army official said./PN
