Slain NPA rebels identified
BACOLOD CITY: The New People’s Army (NPA) rebels slain in Escalante City have been identified and brought down from the encounter site in Sitio Mansulao, Barangay Pinapugasan, Escalante City on Saturday afternoon, February 24.
Authorities identified the three rebel fatalities as Emaren Pastidio, Michael Cabahug and Jose Caramihan.
Lt. Col. Arnel Calaogan, commander of the Philippine Army’s 79th Infantry Battalion, said Pastidio and Cabahug were previously identified as “child soldiers” who had also been captured previously by the 79IB.
Both Pastidio and Cabahug were given the chance to live a normal life with their families but they rejoined the NPA.
Pastidio was also identified by the Philippine Army as a high-ranking member of the NPA’s dismantled Northern Negros Front, serving as their medic and cultural officer.
The bodies of the rebels were turned over to the village officials with San Carlos Diocese Bishop Gerardo Alminaza and Dian-Ay parish priest Fr. Wilfredo Bayohin as witnesses.
Authorities also brought down the weapons and explosives they seized from the rebels and these were promptly turned over to the operatives of the Philippine National Police-Scene of the Crime Operatives.
Calaogan said they want the rebels to have a decent burial.
After turning over the remains, the 79IB immediately called for a meeting with the village officials of Barangay Pinapugasan, assuring them that they will continue to ensure the safety of the village’s residents and keep them free from the influence of communism.
Four soldiers, including an active auxiliary member of the Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit, were wounded in the Escalante clashes.
The four, identified as 2nd Lt. Frenz Jarey Gonzales, Private First Class Sandie Cebayle. PFC Jiezard Mesina and CAA member Eduardo Linogon, are recovering at a private hospital Bacolod City.
They were visited by the 303rd Infantry Brigade deputy commander Col. Victor Llapitan on Friday night.
Llapitan personally commended the four and awarded them with the Wounded Personnel Medal in recognition of their heroic and exemplary efforts.
The clashes in northern Negros took place on Wednesday, February 21, after the 79IB received information that the suspected NPA rebels were extorting food and supplies from residents.
Eight gunbattles erupted afterwards, culminating in an airstrike from the Philippine Air Force on Thursday night.
Meanwhile, the evacuees from last week’s clashes in northern Negros were finally allowed to return home after authorities declared the area clear and safe over the weekend.
Escalante City Police chief Maj. John Ganzon said more than a hundred families from Sitio Mansulao, Barangay Pinapugasan were allowed to return after the 79IB declared that it is safe for the civilians to go back to their homes.
Ganzon said the city government extended additional aid for the affected residents.
In neighboring Toboso town, Councilor Richard Jaojoco said 714 individuals or 207 families in five sitios in Barangay San Isidro, Toboso, Negros Occidental have also returned home on Saturday.
Jaojoco told The Manila Times that the evacuees from Sitio Balod, Danao, Mainit, Mansulaw and Magasaw-asaw took shelter at the San Isidro Elementary School.
He said the municipal government provided immediate assistance to the evacuees.
“Before they returned home, we provided them hot meals while food and nonfood items were given by the Department of Social Welfare and Development regional office and the Office of Vice President,” Jaojoco said.