By Glazyl Y. Masculino
BACOLOD City – The Army’s 3rd Infantry Division (ID) confirmed that two more bodies of suspected members of the New People’s Army (NPA) were found on Wednesday, bringing the number of casualties to 10 after the clash between alleged rebels and the military at Sitio Agit, Barangay Trinidad, Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental last Tuesday.
Major Cenon Pancito III, 3ID spokesperson, said the bodies were found near the clash site during the clearing operations.
The Army has yet to release the names of the 10 casualties.
Pancito said that two alleged rebels were also arrested after they were caught hiding in a vegetated area outside the encounter site.
The Army identified the two arrested as Julio Rabot, who was caught providing medical treatment to his wounded comrade Jojo Sanico.
They were among the 40 individuals believed to be members of the SDG platoon and SYG platoon of Central Negros 1, Komiteng Rehiyon Negros, Cebu, Bohol, and Siquijor (KR – NCBS) that engaged in a three-hour firefight with members of the 62nd Infantry Battalion (IB).
During their apprehension, the military recovered an M14 magazine with ammunition, a solar panel, tester kit, two ICOM radio, 10 pairs of rainboots, 11 backpacks, five Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) flags, four empty bandoliers, medical paraphernalia, and other personal belongings.
Both suspects are now under the custody of the local police who will determine the charges to be filed against them, Pancito said.
Meanwhile, Pancito said that residents who evacuated during the clash have returned to their houses, but there are some, especially those living at Sitio Agit, who have yet to return to their residences.
