By Nanette Guadalquiver
BACOLOD CITY – The elusive New People’s Army (NPA) hitman Roger Fabillar was among the 19 fatalities in a series of encounters between rebel remnants and government troops in the hinterlands of Toboso, Negros Occidental on Sunday, the Philippine Army here confirmed Monday.
Fabillar’s death ends a four-year manhunt by authorities for him, who is tasked with carrying out special operations for the dismantled NPA Northern Negros Front.
Going by the aliases Arnel Tapang, Jhong and Nono, he was facing a string of murder cases in northern Negros, with the 79th Infantry Battalion (79IB) offering a PHP1-million cash reward for his arrest.
“One of the fatalities is Roger Fabillar alias Jhong. He is also known as Arnel Tapang,” Brig. Gen. Ted Dumosmog, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, said in a telephone interview.
A series of eight clashes took place in Sitio Plaringding, Barangay Salamanca, from 4 a.m. to 3 p.m., he added.
All the fatalities’ bodies, 18 of whom have yet to be identified, have been brought to Shekainah Funeral Services in Escalante City.
In an interview with reporters in Toboso, Dumosmog said they turned over to the police’s Scene of the Crime Operations( SOCO) team the task of determining the identities of the 18 other fatalities.
“From here on, the SOCO will take charge. We just confirmed that there was an encounter and there are fatalities, 19 of them. As to the identities of the others, later on we will ask SOCO,” he added.
In a statement, Philippine Army commanding general, Lt. Gen. Antonio Nafarrete, commended the operating troops of 79IB “for showing steadfast commitment to mission and dedication to duty”.
As he condoled with the families of the NPA remnants who died in the military operation, Nafarrete said they were “themselves victims of lies and deception that exploit the vulnerable.”
“Every life lured into the communist terrorist armed insurgency represents a tragedy for the Filipino nation. It is our sincere hope that the remaining communist-terrorist group members will lay down their arms and choose the path of peace,” he said.
Meanwhile, Toboso Mayor Richard Jaojoco said in a radio interview that he hopes the residents who evacuated during the encounter can return home on Tuesday.
Some 167 families or 653 individuals from the adjacent villages of Salamanca and San Jose have sought shelter in two schools.
Condolences
Philippine Army (PA) commander Lt. Gen. Antonio Nafarrete extended his condolences to the families of the slain NPA insurgents, who were killed in the operation.
In a statement, Nafarrete said it was unfortunate that these rebels fell victims to the lies and deception of the communist movement that exploit the vulnerable.
“I commend the operating troops of the 79th Infantry Battalion for showing steadfast commitment to mission and dedication to duty. Your adherence to International Humanitarian Law and utmost respect for human rights stand as a testament to the professionalism and honor that define the PA soldier,” Nafarrete said.
He also added that every innocent life lured into the communist insurgency represents a tragedy for the nation.
“It is our sincere hope that the remaining CTG (communist terrorist groups) members will lay down their arms and choose the path of peace,” the PA chief stressed.
He said there will be no letup in the campaign to end the decades-long scourge of communist insurgency once and for all. (with report from Priam Nepomuceno/PNA)
