BACOLOD CITY – The Army 302nd Infantry Brigade (IBde) will legally seek justice against New People’s Army (NPA) members behind the ambush that killed two personnel of the 15th Infantry Battalion (IB) in Sitio Cambaga, Barangay Yao-Yao, Cauayan, Negros Occidental on Black Saturday.
Col. Leonardo Peña, 302nd IBde commander, condemned the incident which they called a “barbaric act” perpetrated by the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP)-NPA in their desperation to hamper the peace and progress brought by the presence of their soldiers in the communities through various activities of their Community Support Program (CSP) operators in the area.
Corporal Alaster Balboa and Sgt. Jhoem Meguillo, both intelligence operatives of the 15th IB, were on board their motorcycles on their way back to camp from their CSP activity in the area when unidentified armed men believed to be NPA opened fire at them.
The 15th IB rendered military honors to their two colleagues before their remains were transported to their hometowns in Zamboanga City, and North Cotabato, respectively, on Easter Sunday.
“Our slain soldiers are just doing their job to help in the progress of the communities in the far-flung barangays,” Peña said.
He said the ultimate sacrifice of the slain soldiers will not be put in vain as they will file appropriate criminal case against the perpetrators.
Lt. Col. Erwin Cariño, 15th IB commander, honored the bravery of the two soldiers whom he claimed have sacrificed a lot and risked their lives in the service of the country to protect the people in Negros to attain peace.