Army slams NPA for kagawad’s slay

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – The Army’s 62nd Infantry Battalion (IB) said that they will continue to intensify their focused military operation in central Negros to give justice to the victims of the New People’s Army (NPA).

This, after a barangay official in Barangay Guba, Vallehermoso, Negros Oriental was gunned down by suspected NPA members on Jan. 14.

The Leonardo Panaligan Command of the NPA claimed the killing in a statement released a day after the incident.

Lieutenant Colonel William C Pesase Jr., 62nd IB commander, said in a statement that the NPA committed a grave violation of the International Humanitarian Law for the death of Barangay Guba kagawad Cerilo Balasabas.

Pesase expressed his condolences to the family of Balasabas. He said that the Army will maintain the peace and development in central Negros.

In fact, the 62nd IB immediately conducted a combat operation in the boundaries of Canlaon City, Vallehermoso town, and Guihulngan City last Sunday that resulted in a brief encounter with suspected NPA rebels at Sitio Cambawgon, Barangay Trinidad, Guihulngan City.

The firefight lasted for about five minutes that resulted in the recovery of a .45 caliber pistol, and a magazine with six ammunition.

However, the Leonardo Panaligan Command Central Negros Guerrilla Front, in a statement released yesterday, denied the said encounter and instead claimed that it was the NPA’s sniping operation against the military.