- GILBERT BAYORAN
The 283 families composed of 822 individuals temporarily, displaced by two encounters Feb. 4 and 5 in five far-flung sitios of Brgy. Oringao in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental, have returned to their respective homes Monday, the Philippine Army said.
Capt. Mervin Rosal, 303rd Infantry Brigade Civil Military Operations officer, said the displaced residents received food packs and hygiene kits from the city government, Rep. Mercedes Alvarez, and from several volunteer-organizations, before returning to their respective homes in sitios Mananawin, Pag-imuhan, Nabalikan, Hinapunan, and Pitgong, in Oringao.
The two encounters led to the killing of three suspected New People’s Army rebels, believed to be members of the Central Negros 2 of the Komiteng Rehiyonal Negros/Cebu/Bohol/Siquijor. The Army also recovered assorted weapons, explosive, and personal belongings, Rosal said.
No one was hurt among soldiers of the 94th Infantry Battalion, who engaged about 15 armed rebels in the two gunbattles, Rosal added.
The identities of the three slain rebels are yet to be established by authorities, as of this time.
In a statement, Lt. Gen. Benedict Arevalo, commander of the AFP Visayas Command, reiterated that the death of the three NPA rebels will serve as an eye-opener to the remaining members, who refuse to surrender to the folds of the law.
Two NPA rebels also died in separate gunbattles last month in Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental, and in Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental, that also resulted in the recovery of six firearms.
“This is the perfect time to surrender and avail of the government’s program and live peacefully with your loved ones,” Arevalo told the rebels./GB
