BACOLOD CITY – Three New People’s Army (NPA) rebels were killed in an encounter with government forces in Sitio Mansulao, Barangay Pinapugasan, Escalante City, Negros Occidental on Wednesday morning, February 21.
MAP of Escalante City
Lt. Col. J-jay Javines, spokesperson of the Army 3rd Infantry Division (ID), said the slain rebels were two men and a woman. The Army has yet to identify them.
Javines said troops of the 79th Infantry Battalion (IB) received information about the presence of an armed group conducting extortion activity in the area.
Soldiers encountered eight remnants of the dismantled Northern Negros Front (NNF) believed to be part of the group of Roger Fabillar, alias Arnel Tapang, who has a bounty of P1 million, for his alleged involvement in series of killings in Calatrava, Negros Occidental, according to Javines.
Another clash occurred three hours later at around 2 p.m.
Recovered from the encounter site were two long and a short firearm.
These encounters occurred days after the Roselyn Jean Pell Command-Northern Negros Guerrilla Front of the NPA claimed killing the husband of a barangay councilor in Barangay Salamanca, Toboso, Negros Occidental.
Cecil Estrella, RJPC-NPA spokesperson, said they acted on the complaints against 55-year-old Allan Macasling Sr. for alleged abuse and threat which reportedly caused fear to the community.