• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The other New People’s Army rebel that died in a recent gun battle with Army soldiers in Moises Padilla, Negros Occidental, has been identified as a town resident, but is still unclaimed by his family, as of press time .
In a statement issued by the 62nd Infantry Battalion, the fatality was identified as Romy Catacio, alias ka Nonoy, 23, of Brgy. Macagahay, Moises Padilla, and a member of the Central Negros 1 of the Komiteng Rehiyonal Negros/Cebu/Bohol/Siquijor (KR – NCBS).
His cadaver remains at the Nalagon funeral parlor, waiting to be claimed by family members, according to the 62IB.
Catacio and Marivic Ebarle, alias Ka Ivan, who was reported by the military as the commanding officer of the Section Guerilla Unit of CVN 1 under KR – NCBS, were both slain in an encounter with 62IB soldiers in Sitio Kawayanan, Brgy. Montilla, Moises Padilla on July 20.
Army soldiers also recovered a caliber .45 pistol with two magazines containing ammunition, a caliber .357 revolver with 21 ammunition, medical kits and assorted medicines, and two back packs containing personal items at the encounter site.
Two other rebels were also reported by the 62IB as injured, as indicated by bloodstains along their withdrawal routes, and based on testimonies of residents in the area who reported the NPA presence in their community.*
