Another ‘wanted rebel’ nabbed

By: Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – Another suspected member of the New People’s Army (NPA) was nabbed for two counts of murder and six counts of frustrated murder at his residence in Barangay Buenavista, Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental Thursday morning.

Arrested was Jasper Aguyong, a member of a local party branch and Yunit Militia of Central Negros 2 (CN2), Central Negros Front (CNF), Komiteng Rehiyon-Negros.

The warrant was issued by Regional Trial Court Branch 61 Judge Rodney Magbanua of Kabankalan City.

On June 26, CNF Yunit Militia members – Rodrigo Medez, secretary of local party branch, Jimmy Tevez, Jodito Montecino, JP Romano, Eliseo Andres, and Roger Sabanal were also arrested at their residences in Barangay Buenavista for two counts of murder, and six counts of frustrated murder issued by the same judge in Kabankalan City.

The arrest warrants of all seven suspects were issued after the military troops clashed with suspected rebels at Sitio Bunsad, Barangay Tan-awan on Kabankalan City in May 2018. The encounter resulted in the deaths of two soldiers and injured six others.

Lieutenant Colonel Egberto Dacoscos, commander of the 62nd Infantry Battalion (IB) of the Philippine Army, said 27 rebels were allegedly involved in the encounter last year.

Seven of them were recently arrested while 20 others remain at large, he added.

However, Dacoscos said the 20 rebels are already identified and are being monitored.