• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Three suspected New People’s Army (NPA) rebels were killed in two separate encounters with Philippine Army soldiers in Sitio Mansulao, Brgy. Pinapugasan, Escalante City, Negros Occidental on Wednesday.
Lt. Col. J-Jay Javines, spokesperson of the 3rd Infantry Division, said that the identities of the three slain rebels, who are believed to be remnants of the dismantled Northern Negros Front, have yet to be established.
Of the three fatalities, two are males while the other one was a woman.
The first encounter between an estimated eight rebels and soldiers of 79th Infantry Battalion took place at about 11 a.m. and lasted for about 30 minutes.
It resulted to the death of three rebels, Javines said.
Pursuing soldiers managed to catch up with the fleeing rebels, which also resulted in another gunbattle.
Javines said that the eight NPA rebels encountered by 79IB soldiers could have been led by Roger Fabillar, alias Arnel Tapang, who has a bounty of P1 million, for his involvement in a series of killings in the hinterlands of Toboso and Calatrava towns.
Recovered from the encounter site were two assault rifles and a hand gun as well as subversive documents.
Javines said that the encounter took place after 79IB soldiers were informed by residents of the presence of armed men in their community. | GB
