• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Army soldiers are still pursuing remnants of the New People’s Army they encountered twice on April 6 in Sitio Pinyahon, Barangay Minautok, Calatrava, as evacuees from the area returned to their respective homes, Brig. Gen. Ted Dumosmog, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, disclosed on Friday.
Dumosmog said they are also tracking down the injured members of the group of Roger Fabillar, who has the aliases of Arnel Tapang and Jhong, based on information provided by civilians.
The two encounters led to slight injuries to an Army corporal, and the recovery of an M16 rifle believed to be issued to one of the injured rebels.
Dumosmog said he is hoping that injured rebels will change his mind, and will instead surrender.
The armed encounters temporarily displaced 35 families in sitios of Pinyahon and Paraiso and barangay proper of Minautok, according to the 79th Infantry Battalion.
Dumosmog, however, said they immediately returned to their respective residences after the affected areas were declared as cleared.
The evacuees availed of psychological first aid and emergency food assistance by the Municipal Welfare and Development Office of Calatrava, before returning to their respective places.
The group of Fabillar has been tagged by the 79IB as responsible for the series of killings of innocent civilians that were accused as military spies, in northern Negros.
Dumosmog said he believes the group of Fabillar, estimated at eight members, is still roaming in the hinterlands of Calatrava.
He is optimistic that they may soon neutralize Fabillar and his group.*
