• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The death toll in the Candoni armed encounter on Thursday has increased to seven, as another rebel fatality was discovered at the encounter site, and the cadaver of one of slain rebels was claimed by his family yesterday.
The slain rebel claimed by his family was identified as Jonel Saroa Anicito, 29, of Barangay Camansi, Kabankalan City, according to Lt. Col. JJ Javines, the Civil Military Operations chief of the 3rd Infantry Division.
The identities of the six other slain rebels are yet to be established.
According to the Philippine Army, the slain rebels are remnants of the dismantled South West Front, which is under the supervision of the Komiteng Rehiyonal Negros/Cebu/Bohol/Siquijor.
Six of the seven suspected NPA rebels killed in the Thursday encounter were buried yesterday at the Candoni public cemetery.
PMaj. Nelson Amsiwen, Candoni police chief, disclosed that the municipal government processed the burial of the alleged rebels whose cadavers were not claimed by their respective families.
Considered by the Army’s 3rd Infantry Division as a major engagement of the 47th Infantry Battalion, assisted by 15th Infantry Battalion, the encounter also yielded five M16 rifles, two AK-47 rifles and an M653 rifle, among other war materials and personal belongings.
No Army soldiers were injured in about 45 minutes of gun battle.
In a statement, Maj. Gen. Marion Sison, 3ID commander, said the focused military operations against rebel remnants in Negros aims to deny them of space and opportunity to resurge
“We are determined to ensure that the hard-won peace and stability of Negros Island will not be compromised,” Sison added.*
