Negros Occidental folk displaced by NPA, gov’t clashes

SEEKING SAFETY | Residents of Barangay Carabalan in Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental, are evacuated by soldiers following a series of clashes between government troops and communist rebels that started last week. (Photo from the Himamaylan City Social Welfare and Development)

BACOLOD CITY, Negros Occidental, Philippines — Himamaylan City in Negros Occidental province has been placed under a state of calamity following a series of clashes in one of its hinterland villages that left a top communist leader and two soldiers dead and six government troopers wounded.

The declaration allowed the city government to use its calamity fund to assist 3,650 families who were forced to leave their homes due to the clashes in Himamaylan, located about 73 kilometers south of the capital Bacolod City.

The Himamaylan City Council declared a state of calamity in a special session on Monday, shortly before New People’s Army (NPA) leader Romeo Nanta was slain in a clash with soldiers at Sitio Medel in Barangay Carabalan, at least 10 km from the city center.

Nanta was tagged by the government the “most wanted NPA leader on Negros Island” who served as commanding officer of the Regional Operational Command of the Komiteng Rehiyon–Negros and spokesperson for the NPA’s Apolinario Gatmaitan Command (AGC).

Nanta, also known as Juanito Magbanua, had warrants of arrest for rebellion, robbery, and attempted and frustrated murder, according to the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

‘Leadership vacuum’

He was killed during a firefight with members of the Army’s 94th Infantry Battalion in Carabalan, the fifth encounter since Oct. 6.

The AFP on Tuesday said Nanta’s death created a “leadership vacuum” in the NPA in Central Visayas “that will result in the demoralization and disintegration of its members.”

“The AFP expects that the death of Nanta will mean a more secure and peaceful Negros Island,” said AFP spokesperson Col. Medel Aguilar.

AGC, however, claimed that Nanta was summarily executed by soldiers after he was captured in the area.

Suffering from hypertension and arthritis, Nanta chose to stay in Sitio Medel to monitor the situation of villagers while the rebel unit fled after the Oct. 6 encounter, an NPA statement said.

The series of encounters started at 6:05 a.m. on Oct. 6 when soldiers chanced upon about 20 rebels in Sitio Sig-ang.

The soldiers pursued the rebels, leading to another encounter at 3:45 p.m. that day and then at 4:36 p.m. on Oct. 7. Two soldiers—Corporals Christian Drilon and Rex Verde—died during the fourth encounter on Oct. 8. Nanta was slain on Oct. 10, the most recent firefight.

Drilon and Verde received posthumous recognition for their service, said Brig. Gen. Inocencio Pasaporte, the 303rd Infantry Brigade commander.

The clashes prompted thousands of families to flee from their homes out of fear of being caught in the crossfire.

Merle Garcia, provincial social welfare officer, said 18 evacuation centers could accommodate the close to 17,000 displaced residents but they were only allowed to seek shelter in five centers due to security reasons.

Himamaylan Mayor Raymund Tongson Jr. said the city had set aside an initial P1.7 million from its calamity fund to assist evacuees.

—WITH A REPORT FROM FRANCES MANGOSING

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