AFTER a 10-minute battle with the members of the 62nd Infantry Battalion (IB), two suspected high ranking officials of the Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) and their companion were killed at the hinterland of Barangay Budlasan in Canlaon City, Negros Oriental early morning yesterday, July 26.

Reports from the 303rd Infantry Brigade (IB) identified the casualties as Cristina Jacolbe alias “Chave”, 41; Rodan Montero, alias “DJ”, and Everly Kee Jacolbe alias “Kaye”, 18, all residents of the barangay’s Sitio Natuling.

Military records showed that Cristina Jacolbe is the finance officer of the Section Guerilla Unit of Central Negros 1, while Montero and the teenager are both its members.

Lt. Colonel William Pesase Jr., commander of the 62nd IB, said they could not yet establish the relationships of the casualties yet.

But, Pesase said that based on the information they received, the suspected rebels were operating in Canlaon City as well as in the areas of Moises Padilla and La Castellana towns in Negros Occidental.

In fact, he said, they were allegedly involved in atrocities sometime in 2018 and 2019 at Barangay Quintin Remo and Macagahay in Moises Padilla.

Pesase also said that they have been encouraged by their former colleagues to surrender and return to the government fold but they refused.

Instead, they would harass and threaten the families of their former colleagues by kicking them out from their homes, especially those who are living in Canlaon City, the army official said.

The soldiers were conducting a patrol operation in the hinterland of Barangay Macagahay when a concerned civilian reported the presence and extortion activities of these CTG members at the nearby Barangay Budlasan before the encounter took place, he added.

A KG9 pistol with magazine, two .45 caliber pistols with magazines, a .38 caliber revolver, a gauge shotgun, several subversive documents and personal belongings were recovered from the encounter site.*