• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Seven suspected New People’s Army rebels (NPA), among them four ranking officials, died in an encounter with Philippine Army soldiers in Barangay Tapi, Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental on Sunday.
Brig. Gen. Joey Escanillas, 302nd Infantry Brigade commander, identified the slain rebel leaders as Mary Jane “Chin Chin” Maguilat and her husband Reniel “Ka Kumpol” Cellon, secretary and commanding officer of the dismantled South West Front, (SWF) as well as Charity Amacan and Glendyl Mijares, secretary and deputy of the dismantled South East Front (SEF).
The three other fatalities were identified by the Kabankalan City Police Station as Isidro Supilina and John Rey Mijares Jr., political instructors of SWF and SEF, and alias “Pitong”.
The encounter was an offshoot of the joint operations of the 47th Infantry and 15th Infantry Battalions against the estimated 10 remnants of the dismantled rebel fronts, who reportedly were consolidating their forces in the area.
Escanillas said a series of four encounters started at 5:30 a.m. and ended at almost 7 a.m.
Soldiers recovered several high powered firearms, including six M16 rifles, an M16 assault rifle equipped with M203 grenade launcher, assorted ammunition, and backpacks containing personal belongings.
The cadavers of the seven suspected rebels were brought to a funeral parlor in Kabankalan City.
Escanillas raised the possibility that the merging of remnants of dismantled guerilla fronts may have something to do with May 12 elections, in connection with the imposition of permit to campaign and permit to win scheme on candidates.
The series of encounters also led to the evacuation of some barangay residents, who are being assisted by the city government. | GB
