• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
An alleged New People’s Army (NPA) couple died on Tuesday, following an encounter with Philippine Army soldiers in Sitio Nabalas 2, Barangay Canlusong in E.B. Magalona, Negros Occidental.
Those killed were identified as Christian Job Joaquin Vargas, alias Nacio, and Mylene Malasabas Salgado, with aliases of Iba, Shien and Ruth, former political instructor of Sentro De Grabidad (SDG) Platoon of Central Negros (CN) 2 under Komiteng Rehiyonal Negros/Cebu/Bohol/Siquijor.
In a statement, Lt. Col. Arnel Calaoagan, commander of 79th Infantry Battalion (IB), said that Vargas, who served as former platoon leader of SDG under CN 2 and CN3, and Salgado, of Barangay Buenavista, Himamaylan City, were sent by the NPA Regional Operational Command to reinforce the recovery efforts of the dismantled Northern Negros Front.
Calaoagan further said that the couple have pending arrest warrants for attempted murder issued by Himamaylan Regional Trial Court Judge Walter Zorilla.
He added that Vargas have numerous warrants also for murder cases with no recommended bail issued by a court in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental.
Lt. Col. J-Jay Javines, civil-military operations chief of 3rd Infantry Division, said the encounter between soldiers of the 79IB and about nine suspected NPA rebels, which lasted for about 15 minutes, also led to the recovery of three M16 automatic rifles, M14 assault rifle, AR 15 semi-automatic rifle, M1 garand rifle, and four rifle grenades.
Javines said that no one was hurt among the Army soldiers, who are still in pursuit of the fleeing rebels, with some of them believed to be also injured in the gunbattle.
The encounter also resulted to the discovery of the harboring site of the fleeing rebels, where some firearms, two back packs, medical paraphernalia, personal belongings, subversive documents, and assorted ammunition were recovered by pursuing soldiers.
Two weeks ago, six suspected NPA rebels died in an encounter with 47th Infantry Battalion soldiers in Barangay Tabugon, Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental.
“More of this incidents will come to fore, if they remain in the mountains, for even in caves or crevices, they will be hunted,” Javines said.
This is not just a “promise”, but a sincere commitment of your Army in Negros to once and for all, put an end to local armed conflict, and make every Negrense enjoy the dividends of peace, he added. | GB
