- GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Philippine Army’s 303rd Infantry Brigade yesterday maintained that the death of a rebel-couple was a result of a “legitimate encounter” that transpired in Barangay Canlusong, E.B. Magalona, Negros Occidental on Tuesday, Oct. 17.
Such is contrary to the claims it described as propaganda and the denial of the family members of their links to the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA).
Brig. Gen. Orlando Edralin, commander of the 303rd Infantry Brigade, yesterday said they are also open to any probe or inquiry, in connection with the gunbattle.
Killed were Christian Job Joaquin Vargas, alias Nacio, a resident of Barangay Canlusong, E.B. Magalona, a squad leader of the dismantled Northern Negros Front (NNF), and his wife, Mylene Malasabas Salgado, known as Iba/Shien/Ruth, also member of the same unit, and of the Regional Striking Force of the NPA, according to a statement issued by the Philippine Army.
The encounter between soldiers of the 79th Infantry Battalion and about nine suspected NPA rebels, which lasted about 15 minutes, also led to the recovery of three M16 automatic rifles, M14 assault rifle, AR 15 semiautomatic rifle, M1 garand rifle, and four rifle grenades.
Lt. Col. J-Jay Javines, chief of Civil- Military Operations of the 3rd Infantry Division (3ID), said that Vargas is the son of Arlo Vargas, alias Allen, one of the top rebel leaders in Western Visayas, with a bounty of P550,000, for his arrest.
He added that the younger Vargas formerly served as commanding officer of the Sentro De Grabidad Platoon, Central Negros 2 and 3 units, under Komiteng Rehiyon-Negros, Cebu Bohol, Siquijor, and a member of the NPA Regional Operational Command.
Vargas and his wife were transferred to northern Negros to help in the recovery efforts of the dismantled NNF.
The couple, along with Ericson Acosta, also a top NPA cadre and husband of Kerima Lorena Tariman, former secretary of NNF, who were both killed last year, have existing warrants of arrest for attempted murder issued by Himamaylan City Regional Trial Court Judge Walter Zorilla.
The 3ID also found out that Hans Vargas, brother of Christian Job , who also served as commanding officer of Platoon 3 of the South West Front Committee, died in an encounter with police Special Action Force troopers in Barangay Tabu, Ilog in 2021.
Hans is also wanted for multiple murder cases, it added.
In a statement, the NPA Apolinario Gatmaitan Command claimed that they have not deployed any NPA unit in Barangay Canlusong, E.B
Magalona, nor an encounter took place in the area.
In a statement, Maj. Gen. Marion Sison, commander of 3ID, said the incident involving the Vargas couple is a “hard truth on how the NPA destroys the very foundation of our society – the family”.
First, they lure the parents, and when they do, the kids soon become easy prey, Sison said.
“This unfortunate turn of events should serve as a strong reminder to everyone that joining the NPA leads to nothing but harm, including the destruction of families and unnecessary loss of life,” he added.
Sison said that the vehement denial of Vargas’ mother, Jocelyn, of the involvement of her son with the NPA can be understood as a normal reaction from a mother.
“But the fact remains that the couple were active members of the NPA, both having arrest warrants for their participation in rebel atrocities, and their true identities were confirmed by their former comrades,” Sison said. | GB
