By Glazyl Y. Masculino
BACOLOD City – The Philippine Army reported yesterday that two armed men believed to be members of the New People’s Army (NPA) were killed in an encounter with the 94th Infantry Battalion (IB) at Sitio Delo, Barangay Buenavista, Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental on December 14.
Brigadier General Inocencio Pasaporte, commander of 303rd Infantry Brigade (IBde), identified the fatalities as Wilfredo Fuentes, an alleged courier under Central Negros 2, and Florida Ceballos, an alleged secretary of Central Negros 2.
Pasaporte said the clash occurred while the military troopers were conducting security operations following reports on the alleged presence of armed men who were reportedly threatening a family whom they accused of being informants of the authorities.
Also, the security operation was triggered by the recent death of a city government employee who was a former member of Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit (Cafgu) at the said village, he added.
Pasaporte said that around 10 armed rebels engaged in a brief firefight with the military troopers.
During the clearing operation, the bodies of the two casualties were retrieved from the area, along with the recoveries of 22 cellular phones, two .45 caliber pistols, a .38 caliber pistol, two grenades, and subversive documents.
Pasaporte said that an alleged relative of Ceballos was supposed to claim her remains, but they did not release the cadaver since she failed to provide an identification card confirming her relationship to Ceballos.
He added that they will ask the assistance of the local government for the burial of both casualties if nobody will claim their remains in the coming days.
Meanwhile, two more killings believed to be insurgency-related occurred in Sipalay City over the weekend, and Toboso town early this week. However, authorities are still probing if it could be linked to the rebels.
