3 armed men slain, 3 captured in clash with police in Negros Occidental

BACOLOD CITY–Three armed men were killed while three others were captured in an encounter with members of the Regional Public Safety Battalion in Western Visayas (RPSB-6) in Barangay Cambayobo, Calatrava town, Negros Occidental.

Chief Inspector John Joel Batusbatusa, Calatrava police chief, identified the fatalities as Sabino Mancao, Ramil Castor and Emar Himang.

Those captured were Romnick Octavio, Pepe Lausa and Josie Castor, said he added.

Recovered from the slain suspects were two homemade 357 revolvers and a .38 caliber revolver.

A KG 9 automatic pistol, a 12-gauge shotgun, a 38-caliber revolver and assorted ammunition were also recovered at the encounter site.

Three other members of the armed group led by Mancao, however, managed to escape, Batusbatusan said.

Members of the RPSB-6 led by Chief Inspector Yolando Lago Jr. and Senior Insp. Ryan Villasario were conducting operations when they encountered the group of armed men initially believed to be communist rebels.

But the police on Saturday learned that the suspects were part of an armed group operating in the hinterlands, about 40 km from the town proper.

The Calatrava police said Mancao used to be a member of the New People’s Army, who was expelled from the rebel movement. He later formed his own group who was engaged in extortion and related illegal activities.

Batusbatusan said Mancao’s group figured in a shoot-out with another independent armed group reportedly led by another former NPA rebel in Calatrava last month.