BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Renewed armed skirmishes on May 26 between patrolling Army soldiers and a group of New People’s Army rebels in Sitio Bugo, Brgy Buenavista, Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental, claimed the life of an alleged Red fighter.
Lt. Col. Angelo Guzman, 94IB commander, said the encounter ensued after soldiers responded to reports of civilians on the presence of about seven armed rebels in the area.
Guzman said that no one was hurt among the soldiers, who recovered the cadaver of the rebel left at the encounter site by his fleeing comrades.
Also recovered were an M1 carbine rifle and two 357 caliber revolvers with ammunition.
Guzman said that residents in the area were complaining of being harassed by the rebels, who accused them of being military informants.
P/Lt. Col. Norberto Barniso, officer-in-charge of the Himamaylan City Police Station, said yesterday that no one has yet claimed the body of the rebel from the Soledad Funeral Homes.
Maj. Cenon Pancito, 3rd Infantry Division spokesperson, said that while they have already initially identified the slain rebel, they are still waiting for his family to surface and claim the body, for further confirmation of his identity. Lt. General Roberto Ancan, AFP Central Command chief, congratulated the 94IB for the successful operation that prevented the NPA from harming the civilians.*