NPA rebel killed in encounter with 62nd Infantry Battalion in La Libertad

A New People's Army (NPA) rebel was killed in an encounter with the 62nd Infantry Battalion in Barangay Talaon, La Libertad, Negros Oriental on Monday night, Feb. 10.

The casualty was identified as Rolito Apatan Tanillon, alias Roy and Gamatoy, a resident of Barangay Talaon, La Libertad and an alleged member of the Sangay Yunit Propaganda (SYP) Squad, Central Negros 1 (CN1)-Dismantled (D), Komiteng Rehiyon-Negros Cebu Bohol Siquijor (KR-NCBS).

The military was pursuing communist rebels responsible for the burning of heavy equipment in Sitio Manghuya, Barangay Aya, La Libertad on Saturday night, Feb. 8, when they engaged Tanillon's group.

The body of Tanillon was retrieved by Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) on Tuesday afternoon and brought to the town proper for autopsy.

Tanillon's family and the village chief of Barangay Talaon claimed the body in the evening of Tuesday, brought it back to the mountains, and buried it around midnight.

The local government unit of La Libertad facilitated the burial of the deceased.

Additional forces were deployed to reinforce pursuing troops.

No soldier was wounded in the gunbattle.