Two suspected NPA rebels killed in clash

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – Two alleged members of the New People’s Army (NPA) were killed in a clash with the Army’s 62nd Infantry Battalion (IB) at Barangay Quintin Remo, Moises Padilla, Negros Occidental yesterday.

The Army has yet to identify the slain rebels, who were believed members of Central Negros (CN) 1.

Brigadier General Inocencio Pasaporte, commander of the 303rd Infantry Brigade (IBde), said the Army was conducting an operation in the area following the killing of a former barangay watchman on Nov. 20 in Barangay Puso, La Castellana town situated at the boundary of both municipalities.

Pasaporte believed that the alleged rebels were behind the attack on Jovanie Omboy, 43, of Barangay Montilla, Moises Padilla town.

Omboy was shot by NPA rebels after he was mistaken as a member of the Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit (Cafgu), according to the police.

Pasaporte said that military troopers clashed with unidentified armed persons around 7 a.m. The firefight lasted for about 40 minutes, he added.

No casualties were reported on the government side.

Military troopers recovered from the encounter site some high-powdered firearms such as an AK47 rifle, an M16 rifle with M203 grenade launcher, M16 and M14 rifles, a .357-caliber revolver, subversive documents, and personal belongings.

Pasaporte said that a pursuit operation is ongoing.

Meanwhile, Pasaporte said there was no reported evacuation in the area.

“In case, there’s evacuation, temporary lang, gabinalik lang man dayon pag clear na ang area,” he added.