Karapatan-Negros yesterday claimed that three farmers were picked up by Army soldiers midnight Thursday in Toboso, but the Army says they had captured only one of the three on Wednesday for being a suspected member of the New People's Army.

Col. Felicisimo Budiongan, Task Force North commander, yesterday identified the captured alleged rebel as Jolito Lambayong in Brgy. Pantao, Calatrava, as government troopers intensified efforts to pre-empt reported tactical offensives to be launched by rebels in Negros island.

He said his capture Wednesday yielded a homemade .357 magnum revolver and six ammunition for M-16 assault rifle.

Karapatan-Negros and its allied organizations charged yesterday that Lambayong, a certain Toto Palay and his brother Otoy, who are members of the People's Farmers Association, were picked up by soldiers from their houses in Brgy. Bandila, Toboso at midnight of Thursday.

The family of the three did not know why they were arrested and where they were, Karapatan Negros said.

But Budiongan said Karapatan-Negros was again fabricating stories, as Lambayong had already been turned over to the Toboso Police Station 5 p.m. Thursday, contrary to their claims that he was picked up midnight of the same day.

Lambayong who was among those injured in an encounter with soldiers of the 11th Infantry Battalion in Brgy. Quezon, San Carlos City, in October last year, was captured by a combined team of the 78th Infantry Battalion Special Operations Team and the 33rd Reconnaissance Company of the 3rd Infantry Division.

Budiongan said Lambayong admitted having been injured in the left elbow during an encounter with 11th IB soldiers in October last year, and had worked with the CPP legal fronts while recuperating from gunshot wound injury.

Military records show that Lambayong is a member of

Platoon 2 of the New People's Army Larangan Gerilya 6, under the command of a certain Ka Ivan.

As to the claims of militant groups that they were responsible for the arrest of the Palay brothers, Budiongan said it was Lambayong whom they had arrested for carrying a firearm.

"Maybe they hid the Palay brothers and blamed it on us", Buduongan said.

Lambayong, who is a member of the rebel movement for three years, was turned over to the Toboso Police Station the day after his capture, for filing of rebellion charges and illegal possession of firearms.

Government forces in Negros have been on alert since early this month, following reports that rebels may attack the Sipalay police station and its outpost in Brgy. San Jose, which is located within the Maricalum Mining Company compound.

Early this week, Army's elite Scout Rangers clashed with about 20 New People's Army rebels in Brgy. E. Lopez, Silay City, However, no casualty was reported on the government side after almost 10 minutes of firefight, while some of the fleeing rebels were reportedly injured, the military said.*GPB

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