• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
A suspected leader of the New People’s Army died on Tuesday in an encounter with Army soldiers in Sitio Capagal, Brgy. Buenavista, Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental.
The slain rebel leader was identified by the Philippine Army as Ruben Tingal, alias Ka Marco.
Lt. Col. Ziegfred Tayaban, 94th Infantry Battalion commander, disclosed that Army soldiers under his command engaged in a gun battle almost 15 minutes long, with an estimated five rebels led by Tingal, who are remnants of the dismantled Central Negros 2 guerilla front.
The running gunbattle led to the killing of Tingal and the recovery of an M16 assault rifle, a fragmentation grenade, and other war materials.
Tayaban disclosed that the group of Tingal was responsible for a series of liquidation activities in central Negros, and the burning of two dump trucks and a backhoe in Sitio Brgy. Carabalan, Himamaylan City.
The NPA–South Central Negros (Romeo Nanta Command) had earlier issued a statement claiming responsibility for the death of Jomy Pelarta, whom they alleged as an intelligence of the 94IB on November 6 in Sitio Sig-ang, Barangay Carabalan, Himamaylan City.
Pelarta was alleged by the NPA as involved in the killing of NPA – Negros Island spokesperson Ka Juanito Magbanua in 2022.*
