BY MA. THERESA LADIAO
BACOLOD City – A remnant of the communist terrorist group (CTG) was killed in a gun battle with troops of the Philippine Army’s 15th Infantry (Molave) Battalion (15IB) in Purok 5, Barangay Basak, Cauayan, Negros Occidental on Monday, July 29.
Authorities identified the fatality as Ramon Moico Enseniales, also known for his aliases “Art” and “Bugtong,” and a resident of the town’s Purok 1, Barangay Tambad. The 64-year-old Enseniales was a former member of the dismantled South West Front (SWF) Komiteng Rehiyon-Negros Cebu Bohol Siquijor (KR-NCBS).
The Army said his identity was confirmed by his wife, Epeania.
Troops of the 15IB received a report of armed individuals in the area and when they responded, a gun battle ensued between them and the rebels around 11:42 a.m.
The rebels later fled to the northeast direction.
Soldiers of the 15IB recovered from the encounter site an improvised 12-gauge shotgun, two hand grenades, three keypad cellphones, personal belongings, and subversive documents with significant intelligence value.
So far this year, the Army’s 3rd Infantry Division has neutralized a total of 42 NPA rebels across Western and Central Visayas: 21 each from Negros Island and Panay Island, of whom 16 were killed in encounters, 24 surrendered and two captured./PN
