By Glazyl Y. Masculino
BACOLOD City – A suspected member of the New People’s Army (NPA) was killed in an encounter with the Army’s 62nd Infantry Battalion (IB) at Sitio Manlibod, Barangay Trinidad, Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental yesterday.
The alleged slain rebel was identified as Greg Cantila alias “Jordan.”
Brigadier General Inocencio Pasaporte, commander of 303rd Infantry Brigade (IBde), said that based on their records, Cantila was an alleged member of the Special Partisan Unit (Sparu) of the NPA.
He was also the alleged head of the Section Guerilla Unit of Central Negros (CN) 1.
Pasaporte said military troopers encountered about eight to 10 armed persons around 7:30 a.m.
The 62nd IB launched an operation in response to the information given by a concerned civilian about the alleged presence and extortion activities of unidentified armed persons in the area.
The Mobile Community Sustainment Support Team (MCSST) was also conducting a patrol in the hinterland part of the said barangay at that time.
A 5-minute firefight ensued that resulted in the neutralization of a suspected NPA rebel. No injuries were reported on the government side.
Military troopers recovered a .45 caliber pistol, a hand grenade, two magazines of .45 caliber pistol loaded with live rounds, live ammunition of .38 caliber revolver, a pair of binoculars, other war materials, and various personal belongings left at the encounter site.
The Army said that the same group of armed persons was encountered by the military troopers at Sitio Cambairan, Barangay Trinidad on Aug. 16 and 17, 2022.
