Four suspected New People’s Army (NPA) fighters – including a 21-year-old young man and a 26-year-old woman, were killed in a recent armed encounter in Binalbagan, Negros Occidental, the military’s Visayas Command (VISCOM) confirmed Wednesday, July 13.

In a statement, the VISCOM said that elements of the 94th Infantry Battalion, 3rd Infantry Division clashed with around 14 NPA fighters belonging to the Central Negros Front 2 of the Komiteng Rehiyon - Negros, Cebu, Bohol, Siquijor (KR NCBS) in Sitio Amilis, Barangay Bi-ao last July 6 which resulted in the death of four rebels.

According to VISCOM, slain during the encounter were Alden Rodriguez alias Rocky, 21; Nikka Dela Cruz alias Chai, 26; Ruel Gemina Udtuhan, 42; and Rowel Ladera, 32.

Both Udtuhan and Ladera were residents of Himamaylayan City while Rodriguez was from Manjuyod town all in Negros Occidental. Meanwhile, Dela Cruz hailed from Medellin, Cebu.

Lt. Gen. Robert Dauz, VISCOM commander, condoled with the families of the slain rebels, “most especially the families of Rodriguez and Dela Cruz who are both too young to suffer such fate.”

“We regret that this unfortunate event led to the demise of these individuals, particularly our youth as they were swayed by the deception and false promises of the communist terrorist group, the CPP – NPA – NDF ),” Dauz said.

“We grieve deeply with the families of these individuals, as we always would for many Filipino families who lost a father, a mother, son, daughter, brother, and sister in these more than five decades of fighting,” he added.

According to VISCOM, some of the colleagues of the slain rebels have surrendered to the 94IB and revealed the location of their group, prompting the troops to conduct a security operation.

The tip yielded positive results as the troops found the unit and had a brief exchange of fire with the rebels which lasted for three minutes. Four of the 14 armed individuals were killed while the others have escaped, the military said.

A week later, the families of the slain rebels have surfaced and presented documents to identify their relatives, the military said.

The VISCOM said that the slain rebels were part of an NPA unit that was behind the ambush of members of the Binalbagan police in February where two cops were injured.

“We despise the idea of bloodshed in ending this insurgency problem. These senseless killings between and among our fellow Filipinos, especially our youth, caused by the deception and manipulation of the CPP – NPA – NDF must come to an end,” Dauz said.

“As such, we reach out to those who continue to fight and advocate this meaningless fighting, assist your government in bringing in a peaceful and meaningful change, help heal the wounds that widely divided our people, lay down your arms, abandon your armed struggle, and return to the folds of the law,” he added.

Communist insurgency has been a problem of the government for 53 years already, with the CPP leading the rebellion since 1969.