BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
A self-confessed member of the New People’s Army was released from police custody, while his comrade remained in jail for murder charges, P/Capt. Ellende Rebusquillo, Binalbagan police chief, said yesterday.
Eduardo Mission, alias “Ka Edo”, and George Francis were captured by 94th Infantry Battalion soldiers during an encounter with about 30 fully-armed NPA rebels in Sitio Agbagacay, Brgy. Santol, Binalbagan, Negros Occidental Aug 3.
Rebusquillo said they released Francis to the 94IB after the 36-hour reglementary period of detention, since there were no legal grounds to hold him.
He added that Mission remained in their custody since he had a pending arrest warrant for murder. He is scheduled to be turned over to the Guihulngan City Police Station, Rebusquillo also said.
The Aug. 3 encounter led to the recovery of an M653 assault rifle, M16 and M14 rifles with 10 magazines containing ammunition, a homemade shotgun with two bullets, two handheld radios, two cellular phones, two backpacks, and a medical kit.
Two days after, another encounter ensued in Sitio Bugalo, also in Brgy. Santol, Binalbagan, Negros Occidental, that claimed the life of a suspected NPA member, the military said.
Rebusquillo said that the body is at a funeral parlor in Binalbagan and has remained unidentified, as of this writing.
The encounter also led to injuries to Pvt. Wilhelm Paul Tabafa and a civilian identified by the Binalbagan police as Henry Prial, who was hit by a stray bullet.
Both were reported to be in stable condition.
A .38 caliber pistol with ammunition was recovered at the encounter site.*
