3 linked to NPA clash positive for gunpowder

BACOLOD CITY—Three of the 19 persons arrested following a Thursday encounter in Isabela town, Negros Occidental, between the military and alleged communist rebels have tested positive for gunpowder nitrates.

Colonel Francisco Patrimonio, 302nd Infantry Brigade commander, said the positive paraffin test results of the three arrested persons showed that they had fired guns.

The military had explained that they were suspicious of the presence on Dec. 13 of the 19 persons at the encounter site in Sitio Mahopaho, Barangay San Agustin, Isabela, where the soldiers and alleged members of the New People’s Army (NPA) were engaged in a gun battle.

Patrimonio also disclosed that five other persons who were among those arrested on Thursday were identified by soldiers in their accounts as having participated in the encounter that resulted in the killing of two soldiers and the wounding of four others.

The Isabela encounter claimed the lives of Pfc. Dennis Acosta and Pfc. Oliver Grecia. The injured soldiers were 1st Lt. Shamon Pamittan, Sgt. Romeo Castellano, Pfc. Nesty Deniega and Pfc. Justino Esquibel, all assigned to the Alpha Company of the 11th Infantry Battalion. The four injured soldiers were conferred the Wounded Personnel Medal on Saturday by Maj. Gen. Jose Mabanta, 3rd Infantry Division commander, at Jose Pablo Memorial Hospital in Bacolod City.

Patrimonio said the five persons identified by the soldiers and the three others who tested positive for gunpowder nitrates would remain in jail.

The police, however, released 11 of the 19 arrested persons because they said these persons did not have anything to do with the encounter.

Two of the 11 persons released by the Isabela police are minors.

Karapatan Negros and its allies slammed the military for the arrest of 19 persons, whom they claimed to be innocent civilians.

Fred Cana, Karapatan-Negros secretary general, maintained that by arresting civilians whom they were supposed to protect, the Army soldiers have committed human rights violations.

But Patrimonio justified the arrest of the 19 individuals suspected to be rebels at the encounter site, saying they only wanted to find out why they were in the area.

“Since fleeing New People’s Army rebels can easily mingle with civilians, we have to check and verify their presence at the encounter site,” he added.

“If you are innocent, then you are free to go. If not, then charges will be filed against you,” Patrimonio said.

Senior Supt. Milko Lirazan, officer in charge of the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office, also justified the investigation of the 19 persons and their detention within 36 hours of the reglamentary period to determine if they had participated in the gun battle.