NPA member killed in Negros Occ. Clash

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines  — A suspected member of the NPA was killed in a clash between the rebels and the soldiers of the 47th Infantry Battalion in Negros Occidental yesterday (Oct. 30), the military said.

Major Enrico Ileto, of the Public Affairs Office of the 3rd Infantry Division, said the fatality, Julia Tabat, 40, and an NPA member, died in an encounter with soldiers at the outskirts of Brgy. East in Candoni town at 5:30 a.m. yesterday.

Tabat’s remains were identified by her sister Cathy Tabat, who said that Julia, with aliases “Gab” and “Alex, was a medical officer in the underground movement, he said.

Tabat had existing warrant of arrest orders for attempted murder and two frustrated murder cases, all at the Ilog-Candoni Municipal Trial Court, said Ileto.

Lieutenant Col. Rodrigo Sosmeña, commander of the 47th IB, said, “This unit is exerting efforts to locate reported other wounded NPA rebels for possible medical assistance. Our medical teams are on standby should we received emergency assistance call from them.”

There was no casualty on the Philippine Army’s side, and the soldiers recovered documents of “high intelligence value,” a backpack and other personal items of the rebels, he said.

Ileto said the troops from the 47th IB were conducting community security patrol to check on the reported presence of the alleged NPA members responsible in recruiting minors when they were fired upon by the rebels. After 10 minutes of firefight, the rebels withdrew and left behind their casualty.

Ileto alleged that this group of NPA was responsible for the murders of civilians and soldiers, who were only performing peace and development activities in southwest Negros, earlier this year.

Soldiers from the 47th IB are now conducting pursuit operations to run after the rebels while the members of the Candoni Police Station conducted investigation on the encounter site, the military added.  (FREEMAN)