The Philippine Army identified the two New People’s Army rebels killed in a clash with government forces in Siaton, Negros Oriental, on Christmas Eve, and denied the NPA claim that four government soldiers were also slain.
The slain NPA rebels were Ricardo “Ka George” Sabinan, 45, from Barangay Mantiquil, Siaton, and Ebit “Ka MJ” Fuentes, 24, of Barangay San Vicente, Trinidad, Bohol, Maj. Cenon Pancito, 3rd Division Public Affairs Office chief, said today, Decemeber 27.
Soldiers of the Army’s 11th Infantry (Lapu-Lapu) Battalion encountered remnants of the Southeast Front, Komiteng Rehiyon Negros, Cebu, Bohol, and Siquijor (SEF, KR–NCBS) at Sitio Libjo, Barangay Napacao, Siaton, at about 7:25 p.m. of December 24, Pancito said.
The encounter resulted in the recovery of the bodies of the two rebels, a 5.56mm M653 Baby Armalite and a .45 caliber pistol, he said.
Also recovered from the encounter site were subversive documents, a bandolier with two magazines of an M-14, a backpack with medical supplies, and two backpacks with personal belongings and medical paraphernalia, Pancito added.
Estrella Banagbanag, NPA-Southeast Negros spokesperson, in a press statement Saturday, December 26, said a small team of lightly-armed red fighters from the Rachelle Mae Palang Command were on the way to their respective areas to celebrate Christmas with the masses when they chanced upon much larger units of 11th IB soldiers and police mobile forces in Sitio Libjo, Barangay Tayak, not Napacao, in Siaton, Negros Oriental.
Eventually, a firefight ensued, although their comrades tried to avoid a battle in consideration of Christmas, Banagbanag said.
In the process, two rebels and four soldiers, were killed, Banagbanag claimed.
Ka George was actively involved in land reform advocacy and organizing for years in a hacienda in Barangay Napacao previously owned by the family of Vicente Gaspar, but since 2016 has been occupied and cultivated by more than 200 farming families, the rebel spokesperson said.
Later, Ka George went into hiding because of trumped-up murder and other criminal cases filed against him and several attempts on his life. It was only recently that Ka George enlisted in the NPA as he realized that the struggle for land reform can only be won and completely achieved through armed struggle, Banagbanag said.
Ka MJ had been involved in various movements and people’s struggles in Bohol, and was active in cultural work among the youth before he joined the NPA in Negros, the rebel spokesperson added.
The 3rd Infantry Division is not surprised by the claims of the NPA spokesperson as the rebel movement is known for twisting the facts and resorting to lies, Pancito said.
Pancito said the NPA claim that four soldiers died during the encounter is a desperate move to cover up for their weakened organization.
“We challenge them to produce substantial proof. Death of any soldier is not something that we are to be ashamed of. We are proud to render service to this country even if the price is our own blood,” Pancito said.
“On their claim that the encountered NPAs were a small team of the SEF (Southeast Front) is as if saying that there was a big SEF. The truth as per their former comrades is that fighters operating in southeast Negros are remnants of the defunct group after having been considered dismantled by their own leadership for not meeting the minimum number of fighters that a guerilla front should have,” he said.
On the NPA claim that they rendered the highest honor to their fallen comrades, Pancito asked why was it then left to the Army and the local government to ensure their decent burial.*