3 Reds slain in Bukidnon, Negros clashes

MANILA, Philippines — Three suspected New People’s Army (NPA) rebels, including a ranking leader, were killed in separate encounters in Bukidnon and Negros Occidental on Friday.

Eduardo Arnado, alias Ka Choi, deputy secretary of the NPA’s Guerrilla Front 53, was killed in a firefight with Army troopers in Sitio Lamparuc, Barangay Sampagar, according to Lt. Col. Ezra Balagtey, spokesperson for the Eastern Mindanao Command.

Aside from Arnado’s remains, the military recovered a pistol and bullet shells from the scene of the encounter.

On the same day, two suspected NPA guerrillas were also killed in another encounter in Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental.

The slain rebels, who have yet to be identified, were with the NPA’s Special Partisan Unit that is linked to a series of killings in Guihulngan City, according to Lt. Col. Egberto Dacoscos, chief of the Army’s 62nd Infantry Battalion. 

The soldiers were responding to a report about the presence of armed men in Sitio Agpatao in Barangay Binobohan when they encountered the rebels, Capt. John William Portillano, 62nd IB civil-military operations officer, told journalists yesterday.

Portillano said the soldiers recovered two pistols and ammunition at the scene.