ONE of the six suspected communist rebels killed in a recent encounter in Cadiz City was identified by the wife of Geovanie Romano, 38, of Hda. Rosa, Barangay San Pablo, Manapla.
Lelina Romano identified Monday his husband whose cadaver, along with five other New People’s Army (NPA) rebels, were brought by the military at Negrense Funeraria in Cadiz City.
The wife said she has no idea that her husband was joining the mainstream rebel faction.
She said her husband went home just in January when she got sick but later went back to Bacolod, where he was believed to have been working as garbage collector.
The five other suspected rebels, one of them was an amazon, remained unidentified, said SPO2 Ramil Crucero of the Cadiz City police.
The casualties in the recent encounter, which occurred at Sitio Aluyan, Barangay Baduha-an, were reportedly among the 20 suspected rebels who exchanged fired with the Bravo Company of the 62nd Infantry Battalion, Philippine Army.
The rebels are believed to be members of Komiteng Larangan-Northern Negros.
Battalion Commander First Lieutenant Archie Polenzo was the lone casualty in the government side.
Colonel Maximo Caro, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, said the number of casualties should send a strong message to the rebels that the government is serious in its campaign to get rid of them this year as ordered by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. (TED)