BACOLOD CITY – A 50-year-old member of the New People’s Army was killed in an encounter with the military in Barangay Quintin Remo, Moises Padilla, Negros Occidental on Tuesday, May 21.

The Army 62nd Infantry Battalion (IB) identified the fatality as Richard dela Peña, alias Rocky, of Sitio Inagaw, Barangay Quintin Remo, a remnant of the dismantled Central Negros 1, Komiteng Rehiyon-Negros, Cebu, Bohol, Siquijor.
According to the 62nd IB, a former NPA rebel confirmed the link of Dela Peña to the NPA operating in the hinterlands of the town.
The 62nd IB also said that Dela Peña was involved in various crimes and human rights violations, including the murder of Albert Goles, who was killed on April 24, after he was accused of being a military informant.
Dela Peña had ties to Marivic Ebarle, an alleged NPA rebel killed in an encounter on July 20, 2023 in Sitio Kawayanan, Barangay Montilla, Moises Padilla, according to the 62nd IB.
Soldiers first engaged the NPA around 7 a.m. during a focused military operation in response to reports of NPA rebels conducting extortion and force recruitment in the area.
The firefight lasted for about 10 minutes in which Dela Peña was killed.
It was followed by another gunbattle an hour later between the blocking force of the 62nd IB and about five fleeing communist rebels in Sitio Saksak, Barangay Montilla around 8:30 a.m.
Recovered from the encounter site were an M16A1 rifle with a magazine loaded with 20 serviceable rounds, a bandolier with two magazines for an M16 rifle and 20 serviceable rounds, and subversive documents with high-intelligence value.
The 3rd Infantry Division commended the operating troops and the people for their concerted efforts that led to the neutralization of an NPA rebel and the seizure of a high-powered firearm.
Our peace and security efforts in Negros will persist, even as the achievement of a stable internal peace and security environment for all Negrenses is at hand, Major Gen. Marion Sison, 3rd ID commander, said.
This is an integral part of our sustainment strategy to prevent any attempts at recovery and resurgence by the dismantled guerrilla fronts of the NPA, he added.