TWO suspected members of the New People's Army (NPA) were killed during an encounter with members of the 62nd Infantry (Unifier) Battalion in Sitio Agpapatao, Barangay Binobohan, Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental around 6:10 p.m. of February 28.
The two rebel casualties were identified as Edgar Bonifacio, married, a resident of Sitio Kalabasa, Barangay Binobohan, Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental, and Randy Canumay of Sitio Bulacao of the same place.
Both were identified by the military as members of Special Partisan Unit (Sparu) of the NPA.
The Army said one platoon of Alpha Company of the battalion was dispatched to the area after they received several reports from concerned citizens regarding the presence of armed communist-NPA-terrorists (CNTs) group in their place.
The troopers immediately conducted combat operation against armed NPAs who continued to threaten and sow fear among the residents. While the troops were approaching the area, they were fired upon by the rebels, forcing them to retaliate and engaged them in a firefight.
The exchange of fires lasted for about 12 minutes, after which the armed rebels scampered to different directions.
Recovered from the encounter site were two .45 caliber pistols, one caliber .38 revolver, four caliber .45 magazine loaded with live ammunition, caliber .38 service ammunitions, improvised shotguns and several subversive documents.
Lieutenant Colonel Egberto Dacoscos, commanding officer of 62IB, said the two killed individuals were members of the Sparu of the CNTs who were responsible for killing innocent civilians in Guihulngan and Canlaon City.
Docoscos said the two were part of the group that continually threatens the people who will not cooperate with them.
"I urge the other members of the said terrorist group to surrender and return to the mainstream society, or else this unit under my command will continuously hunt them down. With the help of the people, we are sure that you will fail. Through the whole of nation approach, I am encouraging the people of Guihulngan City, as well as all Negrenses that it is now time that we work together against the NPA terrorists. Continue cooperating with us, by giving reliable and timely information regarding the presence of armed group in your area in order for the security forces to stop them in their terroristic activities in our communities," he added.
The 62IB dispatched additional troops to conduct pursuit operations against the NPA terrorists in the area.