BY RUBY P. SILUBRICO
ILOILO City – An encounter between rebels and government troops in Barangay Santol, Binalbagan, Negros Occidental on July 14 left one suspected member of the New People’s Army (NPA) killed.
Jerry Dorillo was with the NPA’s Sandatahang Platoon Pampropaganda 1, Central Negros Front, according to Lieutenant Colonel Paulito Idul, commanding officer of the 11th Infantry Battalion.
The encounter happened around 6:15 a.m. There were around 20 rebels.
“The firefight lasted for three hours. The rebels withdrew when our augmentation troops arrived,” Idul said.
Recovered from the encounter site were eight firearms, an improvised M14, four shotguns, two .357 and a .45 with ammunitions.
Residents of Binalbagan provided the military with information on the rebels, said Major General Aurelio Baladad, commander of the Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division (3ID).
“This is a big development in our efforts to bring peace in Negros Occidental. This is likewise a big blow to the rebels,” Baladad said.
On July 9, two rebels, surrendered to the 11th Infantry Battalion in Barangay Amontay, Binalbagan, Negros Occidental. However, Major. Ray Tiongson, 3ID spokesperson, declined to name the two for security reasons.
One of them also surrendered an M2 carbine, a 12-gauge shotgun and a .38 revolver with live ammunitions, Tiongson said.
Another rebel surrendered on July 10, Tiongson said, and brought with him a .357 and .38 handguns, both fully loaded with ammunitions.
In the first semester of this year, a total of 20 rebels in Negros Island laid down their arms, 3ID records showed.
“The 3ID looks forward to welcoming more NPA members laying down their arms, returning to the mainstream of society and contributing to regional peace and progress,” Tiongson said./PN
