• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
An official of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) yesterday said that the encounters in Barangay Tapi, Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental will not affect the May 12 elections in those areas.
Lionel Marco Castillano, Comelec regional director for Negros Island Region, said the armed encounters will not stop them from conducting elections at the concerned barangay.
The Regional Joint Security Coordinating Center of Negros Island Region on Tuesday held a meeting in Sibulan, Negros Oriental to assess the peace and order situation of the region for the May 12 polls.
Col. Erwin Rommel Lamzon, civil-military operations chief of the Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division, shared the assessment of the Comelec that the gunbattle will not affect the elections.
Seven suspected rebels died during the encounter with 47th and 11th Infantry Battalion soldiers on Sunday.
If the presence of rebel remnants were not detected and reported to the Philippine Army, it may have an effect to the conduct of elections in those areas, Lamzon said.
One of the slain rebel leaders, Reniel Cellon, former commander of South East Front, was reported as the successor of Hans Ponteras, head of the New People’s Army Regional Taxation and Implementing Group.
Ponteras died on March 8, following an encounter with 79th Infantry Battalion soldiers in Cadiz City.
According to a statement of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Visayas Command, the seven slain rebel remnants were reportedly in an election mission, implementing the so-called permit to campaign and win operations in the area.
Maj. Gen. Michael Samson, commander of 3rd Infantry Division, lauded the troops for their swift and effective action as he also issued a stern warning against those who continue to support or join the armed struggle.
“This operation should serve as a wake-up call to those who still choose to support or join the CPP-NPA. Your Army in Negros will not stop. We will relentlessly pursue and neutralize all armed rebels wherever they hide,” Samson said. | GB
