• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division (ID) has confirmed the neutralization of three ranking leaders of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Negros Island, who were killed in a gunbattle with 47th Infantry Battalion (IB) soldiers on March 21 in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental.
Capt. Jessie Jun Ebalan, 3ID Public Affairs Office chief, identified the three ranking rebel leaders from the Komiteng Rehiyonal- Negros Regional Striking Force as vice commander Ritchie Veranon, 26; finance and logistics officer Milky Sampini, 27; and squad leader Joedil Balsimo, at least 25 years old.
Verano and Sampini were reported as residents of Guihulngan City and Manjuyod, Negros Oriental, respectively, while Balsimo, of Barangay Buenavista, Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental.
Their remains were already claimed by their respective families, 47IB commander Lt. Col. Dennis Martinez said.
Soldiers also recovered three high-powered firearms and other weapons after the encounter.
In a statement, Maj. Gen. Michael Samson, 3ID commander, underscored the significance of the operation, noting that the neutralized personalities were all high-ranking leaders with involvement in a series of killings in Negros.
“Justice has prevailed with the neutralization of these high-ranking rebel remnants who were behind the brutal killings of civilians in Negros,” Samson said. | GB
