Three alleged New People’s Army (NPA) rebels were killed in separate encounters with 79th Infantry Battalion soldiers in Sitio Mansulao, Brgy Pinapugasan, Escalante City, Negros Occidental, on Wednesday, February 21.
The identities of the two male and one female alleged remnants of the NPA’s Northern Negros Front have yet to be established, Lt. Col. J Jay Javines, spokesperson of the Army’s 3rd Infantry Division, said.
The first encounter between the 79IB soldiers and about eight NPA rebels took place at about 11 a.m. and the second at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Javines said .
The NPA rebels encountered by 79IB soldiers are believed to be led by Roger Fabillar, alias Arnel Tapang, who has a bounty of P1 million, for his involvement in series of killings in the hinterlands of Toboso and Calatrava towns.
Recovered from the encounter site were two assault rifles and a hand gun, as well as subversive documents.*