The cadaver of the New People’s Army combatant, who was killed Aug. 10 in an encounter with the 94th Infantry Battalion soldiers in Sitio Bulasot, Brgy. Buenavista, Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental, was claimed Friday by his family.
Brig. Gen. Inocencio Pasaporte, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, identified the slain rebel as Anthony Ariola, alias Val, a member of the NPA guerilla Central Negros 2 Unit, and a resident of Himamaylan City.
The encounter Wednesday, that also led to the seizure of a rebel camp, was followed by another gunbattle in the same area, Pasaporte said.
In two encounters, the 94IB soldiers recovered two M16 assault rifles, two .45 caliber pistols with ammunition, assorted medicines, and personal belongings, as well as subversive documents.
The 20 armed rebels encountered by the 94IB soldiers were also tagged by authorities as behind the ambush of policemen in February in Brgy. Bi-ao, Binalbagan.
Pasaporte lauded the civilians for their timely information that led to the successful military operations against the remnants of the NPA operating in the area./GB
