Negros Occ. rebels suffer major setback

From Panay News (Jul 9, 2022): Negros Occ. rebels suffer major setback (By DOMINIQUE GABRIEL G. BAÑAGA)

The New People’s Army (NPA) in Negros Occidental may have just suffered a major setback this week – the clash in Binalbagan town which killed four of their members, and the arrest of two others in the town of Calatrava.

The Philippine Army’s 303rd Infantry Brigade (303IB) identified the four casualties as 30-year-old Roel “Berio” Sagon; 40-year-old Rowel “Jing-jing/Caloy” Udtuhan; 20-year-old Alden “Bigboy” Rodriguez; and 20-year-old Nika “Sara Jane/Chai” Ledesma.

Elements of the 94th Infantry Battalion (94IB) and the Negros Occidental Police Mobile Force Company clashed with the group of these slain rebels in Binalbagan on Wednesday.

Meanwhile in the town of Calatrava, the 79th Infantry Battalion (79IB) encountered remnants of the dismantled NPA Northern Negros Front in Barangay Marcelo.

The 79IB commander, Lieutenant Colonel J-jay Javines, said the encounter lasted for at least 10 minutes until the rebels retreated.

One of the NPA members, however, was captured. He was identified as Isabelle Necessario, deputy secretary of the NPA Northern Negros Front.

The clash also resulted in the seizure of various firearms, ammunition, and the retreating rebels’ personal belongings.

Authorities also recovered several flash drives, mobile phones, and subversive documents which they noted may contain “high intelligence value.”

Also in Calatrava, operatives of the Negros Occidental Provincial Mobile Force Company (NOCPMFC) and the Calatrava Municipal Police Station arrested a wanted NPA rebel identified only as “Ka Ricky” of Sitio Ecugan in the town’s Barangay Minapasok.

Police Lieutenant Colonel Jay Malong, NOCPMFC commander, said “Ka Ricky” was also a member of the NPA’s Northern Negros Front, and is wanted for frustrated murder.

Malong said they have been monitoring “Ka Ricky” for the past two months after receiving information of his whereabouts.

Both Necessario and “Ka Ricky” are currently detained at the Calatrava Municipal Police Station.

https://www.panaynews.net/negros-occ-rebels-suffer-major-setback/