BACOLOD CITY – The military recovered the service firearm of a slain soldier in 2020 in an encounter on January 17 in Hacienda Gomez, Barangay Sag-ang, La Castellana, Negros Occidental.
A .45 caliber pistol owned by a slain soldier was recovered in a clash with NPA rebels in Barangay Sag-ang, La Castellana, Negros Occidental on January 17. (Photo courtesy of 303rd IBde)
A report from the Army 303rd Infantry Brigade (IBde) said on Saturday, January 20, that troops recovered a .45 caliber pistol owned by the late Corporal Mark Anthony Quiocson, a member of the Community Support Program (CSP) Team of the 62nd Infantry Battalion (IB).
The firearm was identified and verified by the Police Investigation Team, the Army said.
Two NPA rebels were killed in the gun battle.
Quiocson was killed in an ambush by the New People’s Army (NPA) in Sitio Compound Barangay Luz, Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental in July 2020.
Brig. Gen. Orlando Edralin, 303rd IBde commander, said justice was served more than three years after the murder of the 62nd IB and CSP operator. The remaining NPA rebels will be made answerable for this heinous incident, he added.
“These NPA rebels should pay for all their evil acts, especially in claiming the life of a dedicated Army personnel while performing his duty in securing the peace and safety of the Negrosanon,” Edralin said.
Edralin said the NPA cannot deny the truth with the identification of the firearm owned by Quiocson. “It is a clear evidence that they were behind the gruesome murder,” he added.