By TARA YAP * GLAZYL MASCULINO
ILOILO CITY – A New People’s Army (NPA) leader was killed in a clash with government troops in Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental province on Monday, Nov. 21.
Lt. Col. Magno Mapalad, acting spokesman of the 3rd Infantry Division (ID) of the Philippine Army, said the fatality was identified as Victor Baldonado, alias "Rudy," 34, of Barangay Trinidad, Guihulngan City.
Baldonado was the commander of the Section Guerrilla Unit (SGU) of Central Negros (CN) 1, Komiteng Rehiyon Negros, Cebu, Bohol, and Siquijor (KR-NCBS), which operates in the tri-boundaries of Guihulngan City, Canlaon City, both in Negros Oriental, and Moises Padilla in Negros Occidental.
Baldonado was among the more than five NPA rebels who encountered troops of the 62nd Infantry Battalion (IB) in Sitio Banderahan, Barangay Trinidad.
A firefight ensued until the NPA withdrew but left their dead comrade.
Aside from Baldonado’s body, troops also recovered an M16 rifle and three magazines from the encounter site.
According to the 3rd ID, Baldonado and his group are responsible for several key crimes, including the murder of Army auxiliary member Joselito Raboy in Moises Padilla and the harassment of a police detachment in Guihulngan City last Sept. 10 and Nov. 1.
Brig. Gen. Inocencio Pasaporte, commander of the 303rd Infantry Brigade (IBde), said the NPA probably wanted to recover their support group in the area.
However, he said that residents in the barangay have already supported the government’s efforts to end the insurgency in the province, making it difficult for the communist guerillas to recover.
Major Gen. Benedict Arevalo, commander of the 3rd ID, recognized the vigilance and cooperation of the residents in giving accurate information to the troops and commended the 62nd IB for the successful combat operation.