• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Mayor Alme Rhummyla Nicor- Mangilimutan yesterday declared that La Castellana in Negros Occidental remains “generally peaceful” despite the recent armed clashes in the municipality’s two hinterland barangays.
Mangilimutan, who led the commemoration of the massacre of eight civilians and a policeman 11 years ago in Barangay Puso, said the two encounters also in Barangay Puso and Barangay Sag-ang was a product of proactive security measures being implemented by law enforcement agencies in tandem with various stakeholders.
The two skirmishes led to the death of two suspected New People’s Army (NPA) rebels and recovery of four high-powered firearms, and the surrender of a rebel political instructor, whose husband was killed in the gunbattle.
Mangilimutan, who used to be a police officer, said that compared to the insurgency concerns in the late 1980s and early 1990s, there is a great improvement in the peace and order situation in La Castellana decades after.
Law enforcers are now very active in responding to the needs of the people, when it comes to peace and security, the mayor said.
Residents of Barangay Puso joined Mangilimutan, Fifth District Rep. Emilio Bernardino Yulo, representatives of the 62nd Infantry Battalion (IB), Philippine National Police (PNP) Special Action Force and La Castellana Municipal Police Station in giving honors to the victims and survivors of the ambush perpetrated by the NPA, a day before the 11th anniversary of the incident.
On Jan. 27, 2013, some 12 others were injured, aside from death of eight civilians and a policeman.
The NPA, which had claimed responsibility for the atrocity, later apologized.
A mass officiated by Fr. Ivan Cantor was also offered to the victims, whose families and dependents, as well barangay residents availed of free medical services offered by the 62IB, PNP and the municipality of La Castellana. | GB
