A suspected rebel was killed while two others were captured following an encounter with state troopers at Brgy. Malasibog, Escalante City in Negros Occidental Thursday, July 15.
1Lt Norman Sorila, Civil Military Operations officer of the 79th Infantry (Masaligan) Battalion, said the soldiers were conducting a security patrol, after they received a tip from the residents of the presence of armed men in their area, when they encountered the suspected members of the New People’s Army, who allegedly fired at them.
This prompted the soldiers to return fire, he said, adding that a firefight lasted for five minutes that led to the death of Wilson Yanog Jr. of Brgy. Minapasuk, Calatrava, and the arrest of two suspected rebels identified as Joel “Baroy” Manguiran and Jessie Labisto.
Recovered from the encounter site were a .45 caliber pistol, 9mm pistol with ammunition, nine cellular phones, backpacks with personal belongings, and voluminous subversive documents with high intelligence value, he added.
Lt. Col. J-jay Javines, 79IB commanding officer, attributed the operation to the support of the populace and local government units, adding that the Army will be unrelenting in the pursuit of peace and development in northern Negros.
He also called on the members of NPA to lay down their arms peacefully and live a normal life with their families.
“Armed struggle is not the key, but a big hindrance to attaining peace and development. Let us work together to build communities that are inhospitable to enemies of the state, free from fear, manipulation, and exploitation,” Javines added.*