BACOLOD CITY – A New People’s Army (NPA) rebel was killed in an encounter with the 62nd Infantry Battalion (IB) in Sitio Caranawan, Barangay Amontay, Binalbagan, Negros Occidental on Wednesday, December 6.
The Army has yet to identify the fatality.
According to the 62nd IB, troops encountered at least five communist guerrillas after responding to information from civilians about their alleged extortion activities and plan to conduct atrocities in nearby areas in relation to the upcoming Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) anniversary on Dec. 26.
TROOPS recovered a Garand rifle, a .45 caliber firearm, a backpack with personal belongings, and subversive documents following an encounter in which a New People’s Army (NPA) rebel was killed in Barangay Amontay, Binalbagan, Negros Occidental on Wednesday, December 6. (Photo courtesy of 62nd IB)
Recovered from the encounter site were a Garand rifle, a .45 caliber firearm, a backpack with personal belongings, and subversive documents.
The Leonardo Panaligan Command (LPC)-NPA Central Negros Guerilla Front slammed the Army for the “fake encounter” and condemned the “brutal killing” of the NPA rebel who they said was a civilian red-tagged in 2014.
Lt. Col. J-jay Javines, head of the 3rd ID Division Public Affairs Office (DPAO), denied this claim, saying it is always the NPA statement whenever there is an encounter.
Major Gen. Marion Sison, 3rd ID commander, lauded the people of Binalbagan for their collaborative effort, resulting in another significant accomplishment in the Division’s campaign to end local armed conflict in Western and Central Visayas.
“We are committed to sustain these gains and become even more relentless in bringing down the NPA, not only in Negros Island but throughout the region," Sison said.