By Glazyl Y. Masculino
BACOLOD City – The New People’s Army (NPA) suffered another casualty, after one rebel was killed in a clash with military troopers at Sitio Bajay, Barangay Caliling, Cauayan, Negros Occidental last Sunday.
The Army has yet to identify the slain rebel.
According to the Army’s 15th Infantry Battalion (IB), the military troopers were conducting Mobile Community Support Sustainment Operation, in response to the information they received about the alleged presence of fully armed men in their area when a five-minute firefight ensued.
Recovered from the encounter site were a .45 caliber firearm, an anti-personnel mine with detonating device and blasting cap, two magazines, ammunition, a backpack, and subversive documents.
No casualty was reported from civilians and government troops during the clash, according to the Army.
Lieutenant Colonel Michael Cuarteros, 15th IB commander, extended his deepest sympathy to the grieving family of the slain NPA rebel.
Cuarteros said the 15th IB and the local government have their doors open to all who are willing to go back to the folds of the government.
“The community understands that real progress and development can only be achieved by ending local communist armed conflict,” Cuarteros said.
Meanwhile, the Armando Sumayang Jr Command of the NPA denied the encounter with the 15th IB.
The Cauayan clash erupted on the same day that the 62nd IB also engaged in a clash with suspected NPA members in Barangay Trinidad, Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental, killing alleged rebels.
The four slain alleged NPA rebels were identified as Rolly Beñero, 22, Cristito Nilles Jr., 27, Jury Babor, 31, and Toning Babor, 77, all residents of Barangay Trinidad, according to the 303rd Infantry Brigade (IBde).
Prior to that, five NPA rebels were also killed in a series of clashes in Barangay Quintin Remo, Moises Padilla, Negros Occidental last Saturday.
These slain rebels were identified by their families and former comrades as Evelyn Merin, Jolevyn Ramirez, Ruben Obidas, Alvin Bayno, and Jolwar Lobiano, all alleged members of Central Negros 1-Komiteng Rehiyon Negros Cebu Bohol Siquijor (CN1-KRNCBS), according to the 303rd IBde.
