BACOLOD CITY - A Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army (CPP-NPA) rebel was killed during an encounter with troops of the Philippine Army's 15th Infantry Battalion (15IB) in the hinterlands of Cauayan town in southern Negros Occidental on Tuesday. Capt. Kim Apitong, public affairs officer-in-charge of the 3rd Infantry Division, said the troops engaged some 10 NPA fighters in Sitio Bajay, Barangay Caliling around 6:20 a.m. After the encounter, the soldiers found the body of the still-unidentified rebel and recovered a high-powered firearm. The encounter in Cauayan came after a series of recent clashes in the remote villages of the nearby Himamaylan City, which also resulted in the deaths of several cadres under the NPA's Central Negros Front 2. Among the latest casualties were couple Elbert and Jessa Quillano, who died in a clash with soldiers in the Barangay Buenavista last April 1. Elbert was the leader of Sentro de Grabidad Platoon, and deputy secretary of C
BACOLOD CITY - The Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOCPPO) has assured the public that Himamaylan City remains peaceful and orderly despite the series of clashes between government troops and communist rebels in its hinterland villages in the past several weeks. Lt. Abegael Donasco, the spokesperson of NOCPPO, said on Tuesday the encounters are just isolated cases and there is no need yet to deploy more police personnel to the area. "These do not mean that Himamaylan City is in danger or not safe. Rest assured, there is no peace and order threat in Himamaylan. It has not moved to the Red category," she said in a virtual press briefing. In the classification of election watchlist areas (EWAs), Himamaylan is listed under Category Orange, which refers to areas of immediate concern, where there is a serious armed threat. Category Red is tagged as an area of grave concern, with serious armed threats that may warrant the motu proprio (on its own) declaration of Commissi
BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN A suspected leader of the New People’s Army and his wife died in renewed armed clashes in Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental, while
WASTED LIVES. Troops of the Philippine Army's 94th Infantry Battalion serve as pall bearers during the internment of rebel-couple Elbert and Jessa Quillano at the public cemetery of Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental on Sunday (April 3, 2022). Identified as the platoon and medical officer, respectively, of the NPA's Sentro de Grabidad Platoon of Central Negros Front 2, they died during a clash with soldiers on April 1. (Photo courtesy of 94th Infantry Battalion, Philippine Army) BACOLOD CITY - The Philippine Army's 94th Infantry Battalion (IB) considers the death of rebel-couple Elbert and Jessa Quillano a "huge setback" for the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army (CPP-NPA) operations in central Negros. Identified as the platoon and medical officer, respectively, of the NPA's Sentro de Grabidad Platoon of Central Negros Front 2, the two died during a clash with soldiers in Barangay Buenavista, Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental on April 1.