BACOLOD CITY -- Military troops clashed anew with the New People’s Army (NPA), resulting in the killing a rebel leader at Sitio Banderahan, Barangay Trinidad, Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental on Tuesday, Jan. 10.
Col. Michael Samson, acting commander of Army 303rd Infantry Brigade (IBde), identified the fatality as Orlando Fat alias ‘Banban,’ of Barangay Trinidad.
Alias ‘Banban’ was an alleged political instructor of Section Guerrilla Unit (SGU) 3, Central Negros Front 1, Komiteng Rehiyon Negros, Cebu, Bohol and Siquijor (KR-NCBS), who operates in the tri-boundaries of Guihulngan City, Canlaon City, both in Negros Oriental, and Moises Padilla in Negros Occidental, according to the Army.
The clash occurred after troops of the 62nd Infantry Battalion (IB) responded to reports of the locals regarding the alleged presence of an armed group believed to be NPA rebels in the area.
The military troops clashed with at least five unidentified armed persons for about five minutes, with no injuries on the government side.
Recovered from the encounter site were a .45 caliber pistol with two magazines and five serviceable ammunition, 40mm grenade launcher, three empty steel magazines for M16 rifle, an empty plastic magazine for M16 rifle, a magazine pouch for .45 caliber pistol, a holster for .45 caliber pistol, sling bag, a back pack with personal belongings, and subversive documents.
The encounter in Guihulngan City came a day after the 94th IB also clashed with some NPA rebels at Sitio Maliko-liko, Barangay Carabalan, Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental on Jan. 9, wherein Jose Gonzales Sr., 49, of Barangay Carabalan, an alleged member of Sandatahang Yunit Propaganda (SYP) of Central Negros Front 1, was killed.