The Army’s 3rd Infantry (Spearhead) Division on Friday, November 10, identified two alleged Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army rebels killed in an encounter with 15th Infantry Battalion soldiers at Sitio Cambaga, Barangay Yao-Yao, Cauayan, Negros Occidental, on Tuesday.
Killed were Jovy Basia Moreño, alias Christian, 28, a laborer and a resident of Sitio Bali, Barangay Agboy, Candoni, and Warren Briones Cadarin, alias Omar, 30, of Sitio Barasbarasan, Barangay Manlucahoc, Sipalay City in Negros Occidental, Lt. Col. J-Jay Javines, 3ID Public Affairs Office head, said.
Moreño and Cadarin were Platoon 3 members of the NPA’s, Southwest Front of the Komiteng Rehiyon – Negros, Cebu, Bohol, Siquijor, he said.
Moreño was identified by his father, Larry Magbanua Moreño, while Cadarin was identified by his brother Ariel B Cadarin.
Their cadavers are at the Sola Gracia Funeral Homes in Brgy Hilamonan, Kabakanlan City, and will be turned over to the families once post mortem investigations conducted by the PNP are completed.
The group of Moreño and Cadarin was also involved in an encounter with the troops of the 47th Infantry Battalion in Barangay Tabugon, Kabankalan City, on September 21, which led to the deaths of six NPA rebels, Javines said.
They were also responsible for the ambush that killed two 15IB personnel in Barangay Yaoyao, Cauayan on April 3, 2021, he added.
MGen. Marion R. Sison, 3ID commander, commended the persistent support and cooperation of the local populace for giving the troops correct and timely information about the presence of the NPA rebels in their areas.
“We are saddened by the fact that lives had to be wasted because of the false ideologies and beliefs impressed on them by the Communist Terrorist Group…They have brought nothing but more suffering to the people by outrightly denying them of a peaceful life with their families,” Sison said.
He reiterated his call to the remaining rebels to abandon “the futile and senseless armed struggle”.
Meanwhile, Ka Bayani Obrero, National Democratic Front – Negros spokesperson, on Friday claimed that the 3ID is “stepping up its fake news factory after declaring two successive fake encounters in Cauayan and Himamaylan City”.*