Body of dead NPA leader found in Negros

BACOLOD CITY, Negros Occidental—A suspected squad leader of the New People’s Army, who was believed to be among those wounded in a recent encounter with Army soldiers, was found dead in the hinterlands of Toboso, Negros Occidental, officials said Friday.

Another injured rebel who had hiding in Sagay City was captured by soldiers and brought to a hospital for treatment, the officials added.

The fatality was identified by Lt. Col. Efren Morados, 62nd Infantry Battalion commander, as Hergon Llorente, alias Ka Boboy, 29, a squad leader of the Sentro De Grabidad Platoon of the NPA’s Northern Negros Front.

The body of Llorente, younger brother of NPA leader Hernando Llorente, was in an advanced state of decomposition when found in Sitio Vergara in Barangay Bug-ang.

Morados said the injured rebel, Jolito Carbanuelil, alias Ka Dodoy, was captured by soldiers in his hiding place at around 5:30 Thursday afternoon in Barangay Puey, Sagay City.

Morados said Llorente was identified by his brother Ely, who had joined representatives of progressive organizations, including Karapatan-Negros, barangay officials and 62nd IB soldiers, in retrieving the body from a creek.

In successive encounters in the boundary of Toboso and Sagay City, two suspected rebels were also captured by the military and police. The military and the police also recovered nine high-powered firearms, including M-16, M14 and AK-47 assault rifles, and two .45-caliber pistols, which were believed to be left behind by fleeing rebels.

Hernando, the eldest brother of the slain rebel, reportedly led a group of 17 guerrillas who encountered soldiers at the boundary of Sagay City and Toboso on Sept. 14.

Military records showed that Hernando was arrested with his live-in partner last year in San Carlos City, by virtue of an arrest warrant for robbery-in-band. However, he was freed after posting bail of P40,000.