By Jennifer P. Rendon
Two suspected New People’s Army (NPA) were killed in a clash with troopers of the Philippine Army’s 61st Infantry Battalion on July 29 in Leon, Iloilo.
Brigadier General Michael Samson, commander of the 301st Infantry Brigade, identified the fatalities as a certain John Eric Talibo alias Blue and Jennifer Fariolan alias Hope.
Talibo was a squad leader while Fariolan was a member of Team 2, Squad 1, Finance Taxation Implementation Group of Sibat (SYP) Platoon of the NPA’s Southern Front, Komiteng Rehiyon-Panay under Jennel Tacaisan alias Rico.
Talibo was from Barangay Indaluyon, Igbaras town while Fariolan was a resident of Barangay Cabala-unan, Miag-ao, Iloilo.
Meanwhile, no one was reported killed or injured on the government side.
The encounter happened as the 61st IB soldiers were doing combat patrol at around 6:20 a.m. Saturday at Sitio Pagas, Barangay Ayabang, Leon.
They reportedly encountered four alleged NPA members from the NPA’s Sibat Platoon.
A five-minute firefight ensued between the two groups,
Following the gunfight, Army troops seized an improvised M16 rifle, two shotguns, a caliber .45 pistol, anti-personnel mines, and blasting caps at the encounter site.
Also recovered was an NPA flag and four (4) backpacks containing extortion letters and valuable subversive documents.
