The three members of the New People’s Army (NPA) who were killed in an encounter at about 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 17 in Sitio Banwa Minatay in Calatrava town were already identified.
They were Pater “Mark” Dayanan of Escalante City, Mae Roman Dayanan of Cadiz City, and Sulpicio Hernan, Jr., of Don Salvador Benedicto –all in Negros Occidental.
They were killed in an encounter with elements of the 79th IB (Masaligan) under Army Lieutenant Colonel Emelito Thaddeus Logan, the Battalion Commander.
The firefight lasted for about 30 minutes between some 12 members of the terrorist group and the government troops.
The military received reports of extortion activities of the NPA and Logan dispatched his men.
The cadavers were turned over by the Philippine Army to the local police of Calatrava. They were reportedly claimed by their families.
The troops recovered several high powered firearms and other war materials including an AK 47 rifle, an M16 rifle, seven AK47 magazines with live bullets, five M16 magazines with live bullets, four M14 magazines with live bullets, three rifle grenades, two handheld radios, backpacks, personal belongings and subversive documents with high intelligence value.
Logan confirmed that one of his soldiers was slightly wounded and is now in stable condition.(Cyrus Garde, NDB