• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Commission on Elections is unfazed by reported threats of New People’s Army remnants to the conduct of the May 12 elections in the Negros Island Region, which have been dismissed by Comelec regional director Atty. Lionel Marco Castillano as “negligible.”
Castillano, chair of the Regional Joint Security Coordinating Center for NIR, said the recent armed encounters in Barangay Tapi, Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental, were government initiated.
Four encounters on April 27 claimed the lives of seven suspected NPA rebels, including four of its leaders in southern Negros, and the recovery of seven high powered firearms, along with other war materials.
“It’s a good thing for us, since the potential threats, at least, have been minimized,” Castillano said.
Over the previous months, a gun incident involving an elected official in Guihulngan City, and the arson of heavy equipment in La Libertad, followed by an armed encounter allegedly perpetrated by the New People’s Army, have been cited earlier as reasons for placing those areas under the red category.
The 62nd Infantry Battalion is focusing its attention on those two local government units, according to its commander, Lt. Col. Evelio Ilanga, noting that there are still remnants of the dismantled Central Negros 1 guerilla front operating in the two hinterland LGUs.
The municipality of Candoni in southern Negros was also recommended to be placed under orange category by the RJSCC, due to serious armed threats, following the killing six suspected rebels in an encounter with government forces in November last year.
Castillano said the Philippine Army continues its sustained military focused operations against rebel remnants in Negros Island, while performing election duties by securing the hinterland poll areas.*
