By Nanette Guadalquiver
BACOLOD CITY – The death of three ranking New People’s Army (NPA) remnants in Negros Island has brought justice to the victims of summary executions in southern Negros, the Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division (ID) declared on Monday.
“Justice has prevailed with the neutralization of these ranking remnants who were behind the brutal killings of civilians in Negros,” 3ID commander Maj. Gen. Michael Samson said in a statement.
Part of the NPA’s Komiteng Rehiyon-Negros dismantled Southwest Front and Regional Striking Force (RSF), they died in a firefight with troops of the 47th Infantry Battalion (IB) in Barangay Tampalon, Kabankalan City, on March 21.
RSF vice commander Ritchell “Ka Makoy,” 26, was a resident of Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental, who was deployed to the Southwest Front in 2025.
Milky “Ka Gorting” Sampini, 29, RSF finance and logistics officer, of Lamugong, Manjuyod, Negros Oriental, was a red fighter since 2016.
Joedil “Ka Cairo” Balsimo, 21, of Barangay Buenavista, Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental, was a squad leader of RSF, who joined the NPA in southern Negros in 2023.
Their remains were brought to the Sola Gracia Funeral Homes in Kabankalan City for documentation and coordination with their respective families, the 3ID report said.
The three NPA remnants were identified by the 302nd Infantry Brigade as among the perpetrators in the series of civilian killings in Negros Island.
One of the victims, Leonora Anguit, 74, who was tagged as a military informant, was executed by rebels near her home in Barangay Tapi, Kabankalan City, on Feb. 3 this year, an act admitted by the NPA in a statement.
According to reports, the house of Anguit was occupied by the seven NPA remnants who were killed in a clash with soldiers in April last year.
After the encounter in Sitio Santol over the weekend, the 47IB troops recovered five high-powered firearms – one R4 rifle, two M16 rifles, and two M203 grenade launchers – as well as a hand grenade, personal items, and subversive documents. (PNA)
