Military troopers told to stay alert after ambush

By Glazyl Masculino

BACOLOD CITY – Brigadier General Inocencio Pasaporte, commander of the Army’s 303rd Infantry Brigade (IBde), told military troopers to be vigilant following the ambush that killed two soldiers in Sipalay City, Negros Occidental last week.

Pasaporte said that soldiers should not be complacent and should be on guard at all times.

“I reminded them to stay alert all the time,” he added.

Sergeant Regie Glindro, 39, of Capiz province, and Staff Sergeant Ken Camilan, 41, of Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental, were shot dead by the New People’s Army (NPA) while they were conducting coordination for the upcoming local peace engagement with the residents involving the former mass supporters of the NPA in Barangay Camindangan on Nov. 24.

Both were intelligence operatives of the Army 47th Infantry Battalion (IB) based in Barangay Haba, Candoni town, under the 302nd IBde.

In an advisory released on Nov. 25, the Armando Sumayang Jr Command of the NPA Southwest Guerrilla Front (ASJC-NPA) owned up to the ambush.

The 3rd Infantry Division (ID) condemned in the strongest possible terms the NPA for the death of the two soldiers.

Major General Benedict Arevalo, 3ID commander, said the slain soldiers were not in combat operations and in civilian clothes. Their only intent is for the good of the people through local peace engagement, he added.

According to the Army, they received information from the residents that the killing was in retaliation for the setbacks suffered by the NPA.

In a statement, Arevalo said that these soldiers risked their lives to protect and bring peace to the people of Negros. “We honor their heroism and sacrifices,” he added.

Arevalo assured that the ultimate sacrifice of the two soldiers would not go in vain.

“Their death would drive the soldiers to end the ‘cruelty’ of the NPAs and bring the perpetrators to justice,” Arevalo said.

Meanwhile, the 302nd IBde also condemned the said killing as they vowed to pursue the perpetrators.

“We will ensure that justice for the victims will be served,” Brigadier General Leonardo Peña, 302nd IBde commander, said in a statement.

The 302nd IBde assured that the incident will not hamper the soldiers’ efforts in supporting the local government to sustain peace and progress in their area of responsibility.