THE 4TH Infantry (Diamond) Division has identified seven of the ten CPP NPA Terrorists (CNTs) killed in an encounter in Malaybalay City, Bukidnon on Christmas Day, including a high-ranking NPA couple.
Major Francisco Garello Jr., spokesperson of the 4th Infantry Division, said the joint operations of the 403rd Infantry Brigade early dawn on December 25 resulted in the death of ten members of Sub-Regional Committee-2 (SRC2), Headquarters Loader and Regional Sentro De Gravidad (RSDG) Compaq all of North Central Mindanao Regional Committee.
Lieutenant Colonel Anthony A. Bacus, the commanding officer of the 8th Infantry Battalion, identified the killed CNT couple as Beverly Sinunta alias Ayang, the secretary of SRC2, NCMRC, and her husband Alfredo Banawan alias Alab, the deputy secretary, along with their daughter Chen-chen Banawan alias Pao/Chin2, all from Sitio Trukat, Barangay Cawayan, Quezon, Bukidnon.
The other four CNT fatalities were Penita Singaman alias Pening, a resident of Purok 8, Brgy. Kalasungay, Malaybalay City, Bukidnon; Bebot L. Solinay alias Ligid, a resident of Sitio Kadagsangan, Brgy. Bulonay, Impasug-ong, Bukidnon; Aurellio Gonsalez alias Alvin, a resident of Zone 8, Brgy. Kalasungay, Malaybalay City; and a certain Loue whose residence is in Agusan province.
Meanwhile, Lt. Col. Bacus has been closely coordinating with different intelligence communities and former rebels to identify the remaining bodies.
The 8IB operating troops extricated the cadavers of the CNTs on Dec. 26, at Sitio Kieto, Barangay Can-ayan in Malaybalay City, and were immediately transported to Villanueva Funeral Homes in the same city.
Moreover, the 8IB has informed the families and coordinated with the PNP and the local government unit for proper disposition and turnover of the remains.
In a statement, Major General Jose Maria R. Cuerpo II, commander of 4ID, said, “It is disheartening to discover how the CNT leaders resorted to promoting their own vested interest and agenda using familial connections as means to sustain their business while the lower members are suffering from hunger and fatigue due to our relentless military operations.”
NPA killed
Meanwhile, the 701st Infantry (Kagitingan) Brigade soldiers killed a rebel in a 20-minute armed encounter in Sitio New Paradise, Barangay Santa Juana, Tagbina, Surigao Del Sur on Dec. 26.
The military has yet to identify the slain rebel.
The soldiers were acting on the information given by the community regarding the presence of armed men, resulting in the clash. Accordingly, they encountered at least ten guerrillas. The troops recovered an R4 Carbine, an M4 Carbine, two Android phones, SIM cards, assorted war materiel, and subversive documents.
The troops are currently establishing the identity of the dead rebel.
