• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Commission on Elections is unfazed by the reported threats of New People’s Army (NPA) remnants to the May 12 elections in Negros Island Region (NIR), calling it “negligible”.
Comelec-NIR Regional Director Lionel Marco Castillano, who chairs the Regional Joint Security Coordinating Center (RJSCC), said the recent encounters in Barangay Tapi, Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental was government initiated.
The four encounters on April 27 claimed the lives of seven suspected NPA rebels, including its four leaders in southern Negros, and the recovery of seven high- powered firearms.
“It’s a good thing for us since the potential threats at least, have been minimized,” Castillano said.
A shooting incident involving an elected official in Guihulngan City and the burning of heavy equipment in La Libertad, followed by an encounter allegedly perpetrated by the NPA in previous months, were cited earlier as the reasons for placing these areas under the red category.
The 62nd Infantry Battalion is now focusing its attention on the two local government units, its commander Lt. Col. Evelio Ilanga said, noting that there are still remnants of the dismantled Central Negros 1 guerrilla front operating in the hinterlands.
The municipality of Candoni in southern Negros was also recommended by the RJSCC to be placed under orange category due to serious armed threats, following the death of six NPA rebels in an encounter with government forces in November last year.
Castillano said the Philippine Army continues its focused military operations against the rebel remnants in Negros Island while also performing election duties by securing the hinterland poll areas. | GB
