Suspected NPA rebel killed in Binalbagan clash

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – An alleged member of the New People’s Army (NPA) was killed in a clash with government forces at Sitio Caranawan, Barangay Amontay, Binalbagan, Negros Occidental yesterday.

The Army has yet to identify the fatality, as of this writing.

According to the Army’s 62nd Infantry Battalion (IB), the soldiers launched an operation against the NPA in response to the information from civilians about their alleged extortion activities and their alleged plan to conduct atrocities in nearby areas in relation to their upcoming Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) anniversary this month.

Military troopers encountered at least five armed persons in a five-minute firefight. Confiscated from the encounter site were a Garand rifle, a .45 caliber firearm, a backpack with personal belongings, and subversive documents.

Following this incident, the Leonardo Panaligan Command (LPC)-NPA Central Negros Guerilla Front, slammed the Army for the “fake encounter,” and condemned the “brutal killing” of the alleged slain rebel.

In a statement, Ka JB Regalado, spokesperson of LPC-NPA, said the Army reportedly red-tagged the slain rebel in 2014.

In response, Lieutenant Colonel J-jay Javines, head of Division Public Affairs Office (DPAO) of the 3rd Infantry Division (ID), said that it’s always the NPA’s charge every time there’s an encounter.

In a statement, the 3ID said that the Army has caused another blow against the NPA as it continues to intensify its anti-insurgency operations to declare the Negros Island insurgency-free.

Major General Marion Sison, 3ID commander, in a statement, lauded the people of Binalbagan for their collaborative effort, resulting in another significant accomplishment of the Division’s campaign to end local armed conflict in Western and Central Visayas.

“We have attained these triumphs over the five years in collaboration with various government agencies, stakeholders, and most importantly, the people of Western and Central Visayas. We are committed to sustaining these gains and becoming even more relentless in bringing down the CTG, not only in Negros Island but throughout the regions,” Sison said.