No let-up vs NPA, Army says

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – Major General Marion Sison, commander of the Army’s 3rd Infantry Division (ID), said that they will not stop until the communities are free from atrocities.

This, after an alleged leader and notorious hitman of the New People’s Army (NPA) and his comrade were killed in a clash with the 62nd Infantry Battalion (IB) in Moises Padilla, Negros Occidental last week.

“For those who refuse peace, we will continue to pursue you until you are rendered irrelevant,” Sison said.

According to the 62nd IB, the fatalities were identified as Marivic Ebarle, alias “Ivan”, commander of Section Guerilla Unit (SGU) of Central Negros (CN) 1, 37, of Barangay Macagahay, and Romy Catacio alias “Nonoy,” 23, of Barangay Quintin Remo.

These two suspected NPA rebels were killed by the troopers when they responded to information about the alleged presence of rebels at Sitio Kawayanan, Barangay Montilla on July 20.

Ebarle was reportedly responsible for various killings of civilians. His remains were already claimed by his live-in partner, according to the Army.

Catacio’s remains have yet to be claimed by his family.

In a statement, Sison said that the NPA rebels have paid the price for the injustices they have committed against the innocent people they have executed.

“Justice is served,” he added.

Sison has recently announced that they are targeting to end the insurgency problem in Negros island by the end of this year by dismantling the three existing guerilla fronts.