Two suspected New People's Army rebels were captured and three high-powered firearms and two homemade revolvers were recovered in operations of the 61st and 78th Infantry Battalions of the army in Southern Negros and Cebu.

Lt. Col. Norman Flores, 61st IB commanding officer, said the encounter between a group of soldiers led by ILt. Ronald Putol and about 30 NPA guerillas led by Misael de la Cruz, alias Ka Jimlan, in Santa Catalina town, Oriental Negros, at about 9:30 a.m. yesterday, resulted in the arrest of Rowel Lastimoso alias "Tata" after 30 minutes of gunbattle.

A .357 caliber magnum revolver, with six ammunition and a homemade shotgun were recovered from the possession of Lastimoso who is believed to be a member of the NPA Unit Militia and a resident of Sitio Tubod in the barangay.

Last month, soldiers of the 61st IB also figured in series of armed clashes with NPA and Rebolusyonaryong Hukbo ng Bayan guerillas in the municipalities of Cauayan, Candoni and Kabankalan City, in Negros Occidental, which led to the recovery of assorted guns and surrender of three armed guerillas.

Capt. Renante Besa, 3rd Infantry Division spokesman, yesterday said troopers of the 78th IB Bravo Company said the arrest of a suspected insurgent whose identity he withheld, in San Remegio town of Cebu, also led to the recovery of two M-16 assault rifles and an M-14 rifle.

The 61st and 78th IB are among the operating units of the 3rd Infantry Division stationed in Western and Central Visayas.

Flores said the discovered harboring area of the New People's Army in Sitio Haluay, Brgy. Nagbinlod, Santa Catalina, is located near a creek line, and cannot be detected easily, if not for the information provided by residents in the sitio.

No casualty was reported on the government side, while the fleeing rebels left behind subversive documents and personal belongings, he added.

Flores said the Santa Catalina encounter may have foiled the ongoing training of new NPA recruits in southern Negros, who are reportedly slated to complete their basic military training within this month.*GPB

back to top