By Glazyl Y. Masculino
BACOLOD City – An unidentified man believed to be a member of the New People’s Army (NPA) was killed in a clash with the Army’s 62nd Infantry Battalion (IB) at Sitio Mabanga, Barangay Bagtic, La Libertad, Negros Oriental last Monday.
According to Major Cenon Pancito III, spokesperson of 3rd Infantry Division (ID), the military troopers were responding to a report on the alleged presence of the rebels in the area when they engaged in a fire fight with the unidentified armed men.
Pancito said the Army found the body of a man while they were scouring the area after the gunfight.
Pancito said they coordinated with the local police, barangay officials, and rescue team of the town to properly facilitate the remains of the alleged rebel for identification.
As of yesterday, the fatality has yet to be identified.
The Army recovered from the site a 5.56 M16 rifle, a long M16 magazine, an improvised explosive device (IED), rifle grenade, backpacks, cellular phones, documents, and a small solar panel.
Pancito said no casualties were reported on the government side.
