No misencounter, RPA says

From the Visayan Daily Star (Aug 28): No misencounter, RPA says

The Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade in the 1 st district of Negros Occidental yesterday disputed claims of the NPA Roselyn Pelle Command that its troops figured in a mis-encounter with Philippine Army soldiers in Brgy. Dian-ay, Escalante City, early this month.

Ka Remar Agabon, in a press conference, said they have no troops stationed in Escalante, and their forces are stationed in Brgys. Bagonbon and Rizal in San Carlos City.

The encounter in Sitio Madrak, Brgy. Dian-ay, Escalante City on Aug. 1 led to the injuries of Army 1Lt. John Rey Espinosa, who was hit in the head, and a certain Romeo Palote, who allegedly served as guide, with Danilo Amar, who also died in the gunbattle.

Cecil Estrella, spokesperson of the Roselyn Pelle Command, said in a statement issued to the media, that it could have been a mis-encounter between the RPA-ABB headed by Ka Remar and 62 nd Infantry Battalion soldiers.

Ka Remar said the NPA rebels are operating in Escalante.

Estrella called on human rights advocates to conduct an impartial investigation on what she claims to be a “bogus encounter”.

Col. Jon Aying, 303 rd Infantry Brigade commander, said the statement of Ka Remar shows that the NPA leadership in northern Negros is again “lying, about their presence in the area.

Based on their assessment, Aying claimed that Amar was killed and Palotes was injured when they were hit by bullets from their own comrades.

Meanwhile, Espinosa, 27, commander of the 62nd Infantry Battalion Bravo Company, is slowly recovering from his head injury, he added.

http://www.visayandailystar.com/2014/August/28/topstory8.htm