Three New People’s Army rebels, allegedly responsible for a string of killings and arson, were killed in an encounter with 47th Infantry “Katapatan” Battalion troops in Barangay Tampalon, Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental, about 4 a.m. Saturday, March 21.
The 47th IB operating under the 302nd Infantry “Achiever” Brigade engaged about five to seven remnants of the NPA in a two minute gunbattle and recovered five high powered firearms and a grenade, Lt. Col. Dennis Martinez, 47th IB commander, said.
Killed were Milky Sampini alias Gorting – a squad leader; Ritchie Verano alias Makoy and Akiro, and Joedil Balsimo alias Junjun and Cairo, who were part of the dismantled South West Front and Regional Strike Force of the Komiteng Rehiyon – Negros, Martinez said.
The three were among those allegedly behind a string of killings and arson incidents in Negros Island, including the death of the 74-year-old grandmother, Leonora N. Anguit, and Renante Guadalupe Vedarte, 39, of Barangay Tapi, Kabankalan City, Martinez added.
Recovered from the rebels were one R4 rifle, two M-16 rifles, two M203 grenade launchers, a hand grenade, personal items, and subversive documents, an Army report said.
Brig. Gen, Jason Jumawan, 302nd IB commander, commended the troops for their courage and operational efficiency, emphasizing that the successful neutralization of the armed elements marks a significant step toward sustaining peace and security in Negros Island.
“This accomplishment reflects the unwavering dedication of our soldiers to their sworn duty. We will not stop until those responsible for terrorizing our communities are brought to justice,” he said.
Jumawan reiterated the importance of sustained military operations and strong coordination with stakeholders to prevent the resurgence of terrorist elements in the area.
“We will continue to intensify our operations and maintain close coordination with partner agencies and local communities to ensure lasting peace and stability in Negros,” he added.*
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