• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Philippine Army yesterday identified the two New People’s Army rebels killed in a recent gun battle in Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental, as remaining leaders of the dismantled Central Negros 2(CN2) of the Komiteng Rehiyonal Negros/Cebu/Bohol/Siquijor.
A statement issued by the 94th Infantry Battalion identified the two slain rebels as Joan Lacio Encarnacion, with aliases of Mark and Covid, a vice commanding officer of the Sentro de Grabidad Platoon, and Jolina Martinez Sergio, known as Alias Chloe, a political officer of the Sentro de Grabidad Platoon of CN2.
Lt. Col. Ziegfred Tayaban, 94IB commander, disclosed that the two slain rebels are facing multiple crimes, such as murder, attempted murder and homicide.
Tayaban said the five minute armed encounter ensued after sugarcane farmers, quarry operators, and victims of extortion activities reported the presence of the rebels to Army soldiers who were patrolling the area in Sitio Pisok, Barangay Buenavista, Himamaylan City, on August 22.
Aside from the cadavers of slain rebels, who were remnants of the dismantled CN2, Army soldiers also recovered an M16 assault rifle with two magazines containing ammunition, an M14 rifle with ammunition, a bandoleer, and a backpack containing personal belongings.
Tayaban said the cadavers of two slain rebels will be accorded with a proper burial, in coordination with local government officials of Himamaylan City, and their families will receive the necessary support.*
