BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Army’s 3rd Infantry Division reported yesterday that it has neutralized 85 armed New People’s Army rebels in regions 6 and 7, with 17 of them killed in gun-battles, last year.
Of the neutralized rebels, 22 were arrested and 46 surrendered, Maj. Cenon Pancito, 3ID spokesperson, said yesterday.
Pancito said that 11 of the 17 rebel fatalities died in Negros gunbattles, 13 others were arrested, while 31 surrendered.
The 3ID infantry units also recovered 110 guns, and 25 of them were high-powered firearms.
Of the 110 firearms, 74 were recovered in Negros Island, Pancito said. He also reported that 91 barangays in regions 6 and 7, with 76 of them in Negros Island, have been declared insurgency-free.*