BACOLOD CITY – Ten families composed of 50 individuals have been affected by the encounter where two New People’s Army (NPA) rebels were killed in Hacienda Gomez, Barangay Sag-ang, La Castellana, Negros Occidental on Wednesday, January 17.
Lt. Col. J-jay Javines, head of the Division Public Affairs Office (DPAO) of the Army 3rd Infantry Division (ID), identified the fatalities on Thursday, January 18, as Bernard Torres Sr., 56, of Barangay Buenavista, and Dionisio Baloy, 67, of Barangay Linantuyan, both in Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental.
FORENSICS investigators probe the encounter site between soldiers and the New People’s Army in Barangay Sag-ang, La Castellana, Negros Occidental on Wednesday, January 17. (Photo courtesy of 62nd IB)
Their remains were taken to a funeral parlor in Moises Padilla, Negros Occidental and were turned over to their families on Thursday.
Capt. Jessie Ebalan, acting Civil-Military Operations officer of the 303rd Infantry Battalion (IB), said the evacuees have been cleared to return to their homes on Thursday.
Ebalan said the local government of La Castellana is taking the lead in managing affected families through the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (MSWDO) in coordination with the 62nd Infantry Battalion (IB).
The clash broke out when government forces launched operations following reports communist rebels were extorting and recruiting in the area.
The Army in Negros Island had been involved in three encounters with the NPA this week, the first was in Sitio Martesan, Barangay Cambayobo, Calatrava, Negros Occidental on Monday, January 15, which resulted in the discovery of a rebel camp, firearms, and war materiel.
Meanwhile, the Apolinario Gatmaitan Command Negros Island Regional Operational Command called the encounters in Calatrava and La Castellana fake. The Army said this claim is just part of the communist rebels’ propaganda against the government.