BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL G. BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – The Philippine Army’s 94th Infantry Battalion (94IB) has yet to identify the three New People’s Army (NPA) rebels killed in a weekend gun battle in Barangay Oringao, Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental.
Lieutenant Colonel Van Donald Almonte, 94IB commander, said no one has so far come forward to claim the bodies.
Because of this, Almonte called on the public, especially Kabankalan City residents who may have missing family members or relatives, to coordinate with the authorities.
He also called on the NPA’s Central Negros Front 2 to surrender before it is too late.
At least 800 residents of puroks Pitgong, Mansawin and Pag-imokan in Barangay Oringao fled their homes over the weekend after the 94IB encountered the NPA insurgents in the area.
Aside from the three slain NPA rebels, government forces also recovered a loaded M14 rifle, a .45 pistol with magazines and ammunition, a .38 pistol, backpacks, subversive documents, and the rebels’ personal belongings./PN
