BACOLOD CITY – A squad leader of the dismantled Central Negros 2 (CN2) of the New People’s Army (NPA) was killed in an encounter with the 94th Infantry Battalion (IB) in Barangay Buenavista, Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental on Tuesday morning, Dec. 2.
Lt. Col. Ziegfred Tayaban, 94th IB commander, identified the fatality as Ka Marcos, a resident of Barangay Buenavista, Himamaylan City.
Tayaban said that Ka Marcos was allegedly involved in the killings of civilians in Himamaylan City, Kabankalan City, and Binalbagan in Negros Occidental.
Tayaban said troops responded to a report from relatives of an NPA couple alleging that some communist rebels were extorting from farmers in the hinterland barangay.
While the soldiers were scouring the area, they encountered at least five NPA rebels past 7 a.m. No injuries were reported on the government side.
Recovered from the encounter site were an M16 rifle, several ammunition, grenades, subversive documents, NPA flag, and personal belongings.
Tayaban said the body of the slain rebel is still at the encounter site. They will be coordinating with the local government. Pursuit operation is ongoing against the fleeing rebels.
He said that no civilians were harmed or affected in the firefight.
Tayaban said the death of Ka Marcos will affect the rebel group in their attempt to regain the support of the community. He said this may serve as warning to those who are still with the armed struggle to surrender.