• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Army’s 3rd Infantry Division has confirmed the neutralization of three ranking leaders of the New People’s Army in Negros Island, who were killed in a gun battle with 47th Infantry Battalion soldiers in Brgy. Tampalon, Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental.
Capt. Jessie Jun Ebalan, 3ID Public Affairs Office chief, identified the three ranking rebel leaders as Ritchie Veranon, 26, vice commander of the Regional Striking Force( RSF) of the Komiteng Rehiyonal Negros, Milky Sampini, RSF Finance and Logistic Officer, and Joedil Balsimo, also a squad leader of RSF.
Verano and Sampini were reported as residents of Guihulngan City and Manjuyod, Negros Oriental, respectively, while Balsimo was a resident of Brgy. Buenavista, Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental, according to the military.
The remains of three slain rebel leaders were already claimed by their respective families, disclosed by Lt. Col. Dennis Martinez, 47IB commander.
Army soldiers also recovered three high-powered firearms and explosives, among other war materials, from the three slain rebel leaders.
In a statement, Major General Michael Samson, 3ID commander, underscored the significance of the operation, noting that the neutralized personalities were all high-ranking leaders with involvement in a series of killings in Negros.
“Justice has prevailed with the neutralization of these high-ranking rebel remnants who were behind the brutal killings of civilians in Negros, Samson added.*
