BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Sixteen soldiers of the 79th Infantry Battalion, who figured in an encounter with suspected New People’s Army rebels on September 30 in Brgy. San Pablo, Manapla, Negros Occidental, were conferred with medals, in recognition of their gallantry and heroic acts, by Maj. Gen. Benedict Arevalo, 3rd Infantry Division commander.
The encounter claimed the lives of four NPA rebels, including Marilyn Badayos, former secretary of the NPA South East Front, who was reported by Brig. Gen. Inocencio Pasaporte, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, to have succeeded slain NPA leader Kerima Lorena Tariman, secretary of the dismantled Northern Negros Front.
Ka Juanito Magbanua, spokesman of the Apolinario Gatmaitan Command, in a statement issued on October 1, condemned the incident, claiming that it was a massacre.
Magbanua insisted that there was no encounter, as he further alleged that security forces entered the house, where the victims were sleeping and mercilessly shot them.
Arevalo lauded the 79IB under the leadership of Lt. Col. J-jay Javines for their commitment and dedication in protecting Negrenses against the NPA remnants in northern Negros
The 79IB was also responsible for the neutralization of Tariman, who died in an encounter on August 20, in Brgy. Kapitan Ramon, Silay City, while Nilda Natan Bertulano, secretary of the NPA South West Front was captured by Special Action Force commandos and 15th Infantry Battalion in another encounter in Brgy. Tabu, Ilog.
Army chief Lt. Gen. Andres Centino also lauded the 79IB for a job well done in northern Negros.
“Your recent success against the state enemies in Negros Occidental contributes to ending the local communist armed conflict in that part of the country,” Centino said in a statement issued by the Philippine Army Public Information Office.*
