• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
An official of the Commission on Elections disclosed yesterday that the series of encounters in Barangay Tapi, Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental, will not affect the May 12 elections in those areas.
Atty. Lionel Marco Castillano, Comelec regional director for Negros Island Region, said that there is no polling affected by the armed encounters, and it will not stop them from conducting elections at the concerned barangay.
The Regional Joint Security Coordinating Center of Negros Island Region yesterday held a meeting in Sibulan, Negros Oriental, to assess the peace and order situation of the newly established administration region for the May 12 polls.
Col. Erwin Rommel Lamson, Civil Military Operations chief of the Army’s 3rd Infantry Division, shared the assessment of the Comelec that the gunbattle will not affect the elections in Brgy. Tapi, Kabankalan City, where seven suspected rebels died on Sunday, following a series of armed encounters with soldiers of the 47th and 11th Infantry Battalion.
If the presence of rebel remnants were not detected and reported to the Philippine Army, Lamson said it may have an effect on the conduct of elections in those areas.
One of the slain rebel leaders identified as Reniel Cellon, alias Kumpol, a former commander of the South East Front of the Komiteng Rehiyonal Negros/Cebu/Bohol/Siquijor, reportedly the successor of Hans Ponteras, head of the KR NCBS Regional Taxation and Implementing Group.
Ponteras was killed on March 8, following an armed skirmish with 79IB soldiers in Cadiz City, Negros Occidental.
According to a statement issued by the Armed Forces of the Philippines Visayas Command, the seven slain rebel remnants were reportedly on an election mission – implementing so-called Permit to Campaign and Win (PCW) operations in the area.
Six M16 assault rifles, one equipped with a M203 grenade launcher, and a KG9 automatic pistol were among the war materials recovered by Army soldiers from the encounter site.
Major General Michael Samson, 3ID commander, lauded the troops for their swift and effective action, as he also issued a stern warning against those who continue to support or join the armed struggle.
“This operation should serve as a wake-up call to those who still choose to support or join the CPP-NPA. Your Army in Negros will not stop. We will relentlessly pursue and neutralize all armed rebels wherever they hide,” Samson said.*
