• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Philippine Army reported yesterday that the fatality in an encounter with 62nd Infantry Battalion in Brgy. Trinidad, Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental, turned out to be a rebel leader of the New People’s Army.
In a statement, Lt. Col. William Pesase, 62IB commander, identified the fatality as Orlando Fat, alias Banban, a political instructor of Section Guerilla 3 of Central Negros 1, known as the Leonardo Panaligan Command, operating in the tri-boundaries of Guihulngan City and Canlaon City, Negros Oriental, and Moises Padilla in Negros Occidental.
Also recovered from the encounter site were a caliber .45 pistol with two magazines containing five ammunition; four magazines for an M16 assault rifle, a magazine pouch and gun holster for a caliber .45 pistol, a sling bag and backpack containing personal belongings, and subversive documents.
This was the second encounter in central Negros in recent days, following a gun battle between 94IB soldiers and about 10 suspected NPA rebels on January 9 in Brgy. Carabalan, Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental, that also resulted in the death of still unidentified NPA member and the recovery of five high powered guns with ammunition.
Maj. Gen. Benedict Arevalo, 3rd Infantry Division commander, lauded the 62nd and 94th Infantry Battalions for their relentless military operations against the remaining NPA forces in Negros.
Last week, three NPA members were also arrested by the 79th Infantry Battalion and police troopers, during combined law enforcement operations in Brgy. Cambayobo, Calatrava, Negros Occidental, that resulted in the recovery of two caliber .45 pistols, a 9mm pistol with magazines containing ammunition and four rifle grenades, among other items.
Arevalo said that NPA rebels in Negros have nowhere to run, and nowhere to hide.
“They can no longer escape from the long arm of the law; hence, they must surrender while the clock is still ticking for them,” he added.*
