An alleged New People’s Army rebel was killed and firearms were seized in an encounter with 62nd Infantry “Unifier” Battalion troops at Sitio Caranawan, Brgy Amontay, Binalbagan, Negros Occidental, Wednesday, December 6.
The firefight with about five NPA rebels lasted for about five minutes and resulted in one killed and the recovery of one Garand rifle, a .45 caliber pistol, backpack with personal belongings, and subversive documents, the 62IB reported.
The presence of the NPA rebels was reported by civilians because of their extortion activities. They were also previously monitored to be planning to conduct atrocities in nearby areas as part of their propaganda, especially with the upcoming Communist Party of the Philippines anniversary this December, the 62IB report said.
Ka JB Regalado, spokesman of the NPA Leonardo Panaligan Command, condemned what he called the 62IB soldiers’ brutal killing of Bunny Tubalado, a farmer, of Sitio Karanawan, Brgy Amuntay, Binalbagan, 5 a.m. Wednesday.
The military had tagged Tubalado as a supporter of the NPA, Regalado said.
He called the encounter reported by the Army as fake.*