THE 21-year-old Kagay-anon graduate of the University of the Philippines-Cebu arrested in Negros Oriental following a supposed clash between soldiers and communist rebels has turned up negative for gunpowder residues.

Myles Albasin and her five companions arrested with her in Mabinay town, Negros Oriental last March 3 all tested negative for gunpowder residue based on the paraffin tests conducted by Negros Oriental Provincial Crime Laboratory.

The result was released last March 5, copies of which were only obtained by Albasin’s camp on Monday, March 19.

Myles and the five others, collectively tagged as Mabinay 6, are facing illegal possession of guns and explosives after an alleged armed encounter with government troops in Sitio Tumonon, Barangay Luyang, Mabinay, Negros Oriental last March 3.

Soldiers allegedly seized six high-powered firearms -- two M16, two M4, one M16, one AG 43 (M16) and one M203 -- from the six.

The military accused the Mabininay 6 as being members of the New People’s Army (NPA).

But the NPA in a statement denied that the six are members of their organization, a claim supported by residents in the area who said there was no encounter as they only heard three gunshots the night the six were arrested.

Grace Cantal-Albasin, Myles’ mother, said the result of the paraffin test is a welcome development and should help weaken the charges against her daughter.

"Walay gunpowder, so walay armed encounter (No gunpowder so no armed encounter)," she said.