By Glazyl M. Jopson
BACOLOD CITY – Troops from the Army’s 62nd Infantry Battalion clashed with suspected New People’s Army rebels Thursday morning in Barangay Humay-Humay, Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental.
Col. Erwin Rommel Lamzon, spokesperson for the 3rd Infantry Division, said the encounter involved soldiers under the 302nd Infantry Brigade and at least nine suspected remnants of the Central Negros 1–Komiteng Rehiyon Negros Cebu Bohol Siquijor.
The firefight occurred around 7 a.m. and lasted about five minutes.
Soldiers recovered a 5.56 M16 assault rifle, personal belongings, and other war materiel from the encounter site.
No government casualties were reported, and a pursuit operation is ongoing against the fleeing armed suspects.
The clash came four days after a deadly encounter involving three battalions from the same brigade in Barangay Tapi, Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental.
That earlier operation killed seven alleged members of the South West Front–KRNCBS, including a high-ranking couple.
Lamzon identified the last confirmed fatality as Joselito Morehon, alias “Pitong,” 56, of Cauayan, Negros Occidental, who was tagged as a medical officer of the rebel group.
His remains have since been claimed by his family.
Meanwhile, a 57-year-old laborer and former NPA militiaman surrendered to police Wednesday in Barangay Carabalan, Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental.
Identified as “Ronilo,” he was a former member of the Central Negros 2–KRNCBS, according to the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office.
Police said Ronilo was first recruited in 1982 to the now-dismantled Northern Negros Front in San Carlos City.
He was reportedly invited to join CN2 in February 2008.
Ronilo surrendered a .22-caliber revolver without ammunition to the 2nd Negros Occidental Police Provincial Mobile Force Company and expressed intent to clear his name and renounce support for the NPA.
He also pledged to assist the government in its anti-insurgency efforts.
Authorities released him to his family after proper documentation.
