NPA slams Army for death of two comrades

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – The Leonardo Panaligan Command of the New People’s Army (LPC-NPA) said that the encounter that happened in Barangay Montilla, Moises Padilla, Negros Occidental last week was not legitimate.

In a statement dated July 27, Ka JB Regalado, spokesperson of LPC-NPA, said they condemned the death of Marivic Ebarle (Ka Bryan) and Romy Catacio.

Ebarle, 37, of Barangay Macagahay, an alleged commander of Section Guerilla Unit (SGU) of Central Negros (CN) 1 and Catacio, an alleged member of CN 1 were killed in a firefight when the Army’s 62nd Infantry Battalion (IB) responded to information about the alleged presence of the enemy at Sitio Kawayanan, Barangay Montilla on July 20.

However, Regalado said that Ebarle was on medical leave when he was killed on July 20. Ebarle was wounded in the clash with the 62nd IB in Barangay Macagahay on July 13, he added.

Regalado said that Catacio was taking care of Ebarle when he was killed.

“Mabaskog gid nga ginakondenar sang LPC-NPA ang over-kill kag patraydor nga pagpatay sang 62nd IB kay Catasio, isa ka sibilyan, kag Ka Bryan, hors de combat ukon wala ikasarang magbato nga pulang hangaway,” Regalado said.

The Army maintained that the July 20 encounter was legitimate.

Capt. Mervin Rosal, civil military operations officer of the 303rd Infantry Brigade (IBde), said that the NPA’s statement is clear propaganda.