Another military intelligence operative was killed, while his daughter survived an ambush allegedly perpetrated by New People's Army rebels in Brgy. Bagtic, La Libertad, Oriental Negros, during the weekend.

Air Force Sgt. Jonimar Emperado was the third military intelligence operative who died in an ambush and assassination activities of the New People's Army in Negros island since last year, military records show.

Emperado who sustained bullet wounds in the head died while his 9-year-old daughter survived, but had a minor wound in her left knee.

Military investigations show that Emperado and his daughter, on board a motorcycle, were on their way to Brgy. Aya, La Libertad, when they were ambushed by about 10 unidentified armed men believed to be rebels, on May 26. Recovered from the ambush site by responding policemen of La Libertad were a fragmentation grenade and spent shells of M-16 and M-14 assault rifles.

On March 9, Aya Brgy. Capt. Lydio Baylon, a staunch anti-communist leader, and six other civilians, were also killed in an ambush, responsibility for which was claimed by the Leonardo Panaligan Command of the New People's Army. 2Lt. Mark Andres Posadas, 11th Infantry Battalion Civil Military Operations chief, yesterday said they suspect that the Leonardo Panaligan Command was also behind the ambush-slay of Emperado, a known personality in the military intelligence community.

The liquidations of two intelligence operatives of the 11th Infantry Battalion in Manapla in Negros Occidental and Guihulngan town in Oriental Negros last year, were also claimed by the New People's Army Boy Gatmaitan Command.*GPB

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