Another alleged New People’s Army (NPA) member in Central Negros was killed in an encounter with 62nd Infantry “Unifier” Battalion troops in Sitio Banderahan, Brgy Trinidad, Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental, at about 7 a.m. Tuesday, December 10.
Killed was Orlando Fat, alias Banban, a resident of Sitio Banderahan and an alleged political instructor of the NPA Guerilla Unit 3 of the Central Negros Front 1 that operates in the tri-boundaries of Guihulngan City and Canlaon City in Negros Oriental and Moises Padilla, Negros Occidental, the 62nd IB reported.
He was killed in a 62IB IB encounter with about five NPA rebels.
Concerned residents annoyed by the rebels’ extortion, intimidation, and harassment informed the 62IB of their presence in Brgy Trinidad, the report said.
While the soldiers were approaching in the area, they were fired upon by the rebels and a gunbattle lasted about five minutes, it added.
Seized from the encounter site were a .45 caliber pistol with two magazines with ammunitions, a 40mm grenade launcher, three empty steel magazines for an M-16 rifle, an empty plastic magazine for an M1-16 rifle, subversive documents and personal belongings.
Col. Michael Samson, 303rd Brigade Commander, lauded the efforts of the 62IB troopers for their prompt action that prevented the rebels from committing atrocities against residents in the area.
An alleged New People’s Army rebel was also killed in a clash with 94th Infantry Battalion soldiers in Sitio Maliko-liko, Brgy Carabalan, Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental, 6:30 a.m. Monday, January 9.*