Army Kills Suspected Rebel in Negros Oriental Clash

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY — A suspected member of the New People’s Army (NPA) was killed in an encounter with the Army’s 62nd Infantry Battalion (IB) on Monday night at Crossing Lansang, Barangay Talaon, La Libertad, Negros Oriental.

The Army identified the fatality as alias “Roy” or “Gamatoy,” a resident of Barangay Talaon and an alleged member of the Sangay Yunit Propaganda (SYP) Squad, Central Negros 1 (CN1)-Dismantled, Komiteng Rehiyon-Negros Cebu Bohol Siquijor (KR-NCBS).

The clash occurred two days after NPA rebels reportedly burned heavy equipment at Sitio Manghuya, Barangay Aya, La Libertad, on Saturday night.

Military troopers were conducting pursuit operations against the rebels involved in the burning incident when they encountered four armed men around 7 p.m. A firefight broke out, resulting in the death of the suspected rebel, whom his comrades left behind as they fled.

The 62nd IB coordinated with local police and rescue teams to retrieve the body.

At the encounter site, troops recovered an M14 rifle with a defaced serial number. No government forces were injured.

Additional troops have been deployed to reinforce operations and pursue the fleeing rebels.

The 62nd IB said the operation demonstrates its commitment to dismantling the remaining NPA forces in Negros Island.