By Jennifer P. Rendon and Glazyl Y. Masculino
Three alleged rebels, including a couple, were killed in separate armed encounters on April 1, 2022 in the provinces of Aklan and Negros Occidental.
The trio allegedly held key positions in the New People’s Army (NPA) movement in the region.
The first fatality died during an encounter with the Philippine Army’s 12th Infantry Battalion at Sitio Maytaraw, Barangay Dalaga-an, Libacao, Aklan.
The firefight happened at around 2:10 p.m. of Friday and lasted for 15 minutes.
The 301st Infantry Brigade, which has operational control of the 12th IB, said that the lone fatality in the said encounter is reportedly a member of the Sentro de Grabidad (SDG) Igabon Platoon of the Komiteng Rehiyon-Panay (KR-P)’s Central Front (CF).
Earlier reports claimed the slain rebel as alias Lea, a resident of Tapaz, Capiz, but military authorities later said they have to confirm her identity.
Recovered from the encounter site were a homemade 12-gauge shotgun, a hand grenade, a backpack, and personal belongings.
Brigadier General Marion Sison, 301st IB commander, said that it was a tip-off from residents that led the troops to the rebels’ whereabouts.
“I am glad for the cooperation of the community as they show their utmost trust and support by providing our troops with reliable and timely information. It is a clear manifestation that the civilian populace are now aware of the treacherous, deceitful and evil acts of the NPAs that only sow fear and terror in their community,” Sison said.
More than an hour after the Aklan encounter, members of the 94th Infantry Battalion encounter around 15 NPA combatants at Sirio Kulihaw, Barangay Buenavista, Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental.
After the 20-minute firefight, the bodies of two rebels were found at the encounter site.
They were identified as spouses Elbert Nicolas Quillano alias Carding and Jessa Luiso Quillano alias Clean/JS.
Elbert was allegedly a finance officer while Jessa was a medical officer of an NPA platoon operating in central Negros Island.
The Army troopers seized a caliber .45 pistol with magazine loaded with 7 ammunition, a Lenovo tanker, two mobile phones, a Baofeng radio, various subversive documents, and personal belongings.
The clash happened barely a week after series of clashes in Barangay Carabalan in the said city happened on March 25 and 26 that also killed two suspected rebels.
Brigadier General Inocencio Pasaporte, commander of 303rd Infantry Brigade (IBde), said the couple was part of a group of rebels that was encountered by the 94th Infantry Battalion (IB) in Barangay Carabalan last month when the soldiers responded to reports on the alleged presence of unidentified armed men in the area.
“Part pa ni sila sang pursuit operation and clearing operation in line with the security preparation for the local and national elections on May 9,” Pasaporte said.
Major General Benedict Arevalo, 3rd ID commander, said that the three encounters last week were due to relentless combat operations of 3rd ID’s line units.
He also commended the operating troops for running against local insurgents.
As this developed, Arevalo has urged the remaining members of the CPP-NPA to go back to the folds of the law and avail the government’s program through Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP).
