• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The bodies of two suspected New People’s Army (NPA) rebels killed in an encounter on Nov. 7 in Cauayan, Negros Occidental have been claimed by their respective families, the Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division (ID) said yesterday.
They were identified as Jovy Basia Moreño, alias Christian, 28 , of Sitio Bali, Barangay Agboy, Candoni, and Warren Briones Cadarin, alias Omar, 30, of Sitio Barasbarasan in Barangay Manlucahoc, Sipalay City.
Moreño and Cadarin were both members of the South West Front Platoon 3 under the supervision of the Komiteng Rehiyonal-Negros/Cebu/Bohol/ Siquijor.
In a statement, the 3ID said the group of Moreño and Cadarin were responsible for the ambush that killed two 15th Infantry Battalion (IB) personnel in Barangay Yaoyao, Cauayan on April 3, 2021.
Last Tuesday, both were killed in an encounter with 15IB soldiers also in the same barangay.
Soldiers recovered M14 and M653 assault rifles, a caliber .45 pistol traced to have been owned by the late Sgt. Jhoerum Meguillo, and an anti- personnel mine with a blasting cap, among other items.
The slain rebels were also involved in an encounter with the 47th Infantry Battalion soldiers on Sept. 21 in Barangay Tabugon, Kabankalan City, which also claimed the lives of six NPA rebels, according to the 3ID.
Maj. Gen. Marion Sison, commander of 3ID, ordered the 15IB to extend any support to alleviate the burden of the families of two slain rebels. | GB
