One killed as Army soldiers clash with rebels in NegOr

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – An alleged member of the New People’s Army (NPA) was killed in an encounter with the military troopers at Sitio Taluktok, Barangay Sandayao, Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental yesterday.

The five-minute firefight claimed the life of Pompeo D. Landesa, 54, of Barangay Sandayao, an alleged member of the NPA’s Central Negros 1 unit.

According to Brigadier General Inocencio Pasaporte, commander of Army’s 303rd Infantry Brigade (IBde), at least five armed rebels were encountered by the 62nd Infantry Battalion (IB) around 8 a.m.

Pasaporte said the soldiers conducted patrol after receiving reports on the alleged extortion activities of the NPA in the area when the clash occurred. No injuries were reported on the government side.

“Lain ni sila nga grupo kaysa sa na encounter sang Army ligad,” Pasaporte said, adding that the rebels in the recent encounter were part of Central Negros 1, which is reportedly operating in the towns of Moises Padilla and Isabela in Negros Occidental, and Guihulngan City.

Military troopers recovered from the encounter site a KG9 loaded with a magazine, a magnum .357 loaded with three ammunition, a hand grenade, and subversive documents of the NPA.

Based on a report from the Army, Landesa was allegedly involved in various murder cases, and was charged for alleged violation of Republic Act 10591 or the Comprehensive Law on Firearms and Ammunition) since 2019.