BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
An exhausted member of the New People’s Army militiaman, who has been fleeing from Army soldiers, was apprehended in joint military and police operations on November 6 in Sitio Mabato, Brgy. Talaon, La Libertad in Negros Oriental.
The arrested rebel was identified by the Philippine Army as Tony Elod, alias Tonyo, a member of Yunit Militia of Central Negros 1, under the Komiteng Rehiyon Cebu, Bohol, Negros.
His apprehension initially yielded a .38 caliber revolver with six ammunition and a homemade 12-gauge shotgun with six ammunition.
Elod told the 62nd Infantry Battalion that he was tasked by his fleeing comrades to monitor the location of government forces, and was entrusted with several firearms for safekeeping.
Acting on information provided by Elod, the 62IB subsequently recovered a .357 Magnum revolver, two .38 caliber revolvers, and another homemade shotgun.
In a statement, Brig. Gen. Inocencio Pasaporte, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, attributed the successful operations and concerted efforts of the 62IB and La Libertad to the cooperation of the residents in the area where Elod was arrested.
Pasaporte also assured rebels injured in recent encounters that they will be accorded with proper treatment of their injuries as soon as they surrender to authorities.*
