6 NPA rebels killed in Saturday clash in Negros Oriental — military

Six New People's Army (NPA) rebels were killed and 11 others were injured and subsequently captured in clashes with government forces in Pamplona town in Negros Oriental over the weekend, a military commander reported Monday. The first in the two clashes erupted at 6:40 a.m. Saturday at Sitio Kulabyawan in Banawe village, according to Maj. Gen. Emmanuel Bautista, commander of the 3rd Infantry Division. He said the firefight lasted for 40 minutes, after which the rebels withdrew and left behind two of their slain comrades and five others who were wounded. One government soldier sustained minor injury in the encounter. On the same day, at around 5:25 p.m., Bautista said the soldiers caught up with the fleeing rebels at the same sitio, sparking another firefight that lasted for 10 minutes that left four rebels dead and six others injured. The soldiers recovered at the scene an M16 rifle, personal belongings and backpacks, Bautista said. The rebels were believed to be under Marilyn Badayos, the secretary of the Southeast Front of the NPA's Southeast Front who was arrested at Omar Hotel in Bacolod City last Saturday by virtue of warrants of arrest for rebellion and murder. Military officials said they believe that Badayos was recuperating at the hotel from a gunshot wound she sustained at her right elbow during firefight with soldiers last May 3 in Sta. Catalina town, also in Negros Oriental. In a related incident, a government soldier was killed while five others, including an officer, were wounded in another firefight in Pantukan town in Compostela Valley at around 4:45 p.m last Saturday. Lt. Col. Lyndon Paniza, spokesman of the 10th Infantry Division, said the operating troops were on combat operation with they clashed with at least 70 insurgents, led by one Eddie Genesa, alias Commander Lando, at the vicinity of Sitio Piasusuan in Napnapan village. Paniza refused to identify the slain soldier pending notification of his nearest kin. Those who were hurt, meanwhile, were identified as 1Lt. Silva, and Pfcs. Baniqued, Paredes, Puyao and Tomas. — KBK, GMA News