By Mary Judaline Partlow
DUMAGUETE CITY – A suspected member of the New People’s Army (NPA) was killed in an armed clash with government troops in Barangay Humay-humay, Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental on Thursday, prompting dozens of families to flee their homes.
Lt. Col. Evelio Ilanga, commander of the Army’s 62nd Infantry Battalion, said the encounter occurred around 12:10 p.m. in Sitio Tubigan and resulted in the death of Tony Pahayay, also known by the aliases “Aldren” and “Redol.”
A resident of Barangay Bulado, Pahayay was believed to be part of Squad 2, Sentro de Gravidad, under the dismantled Central Negros 1 guerrilla front.
“Former rebels and community informants helped confirm the identity of Pahayay, whose body was found holding an Armalite rifle and wearing a black shirt bearing the NPA’s emblem,” Ilanga said in his report Friday.
He added that Pahayay had likely separated from a larger group of about nine armed men who engaged troops in two earlier skirmishes Thursday morning.
Soldiers recovered an M4 rifle, an M16 rifle, ammunition, cooking utensils, personal belongings, and alleged subversive documents from the encounter sites.
Pahayay’s body was taken to a funeral home in Guihulngan City for post-mortem examination, though no relatives have come forward to claim his remains as of posting time.
Meanwhile, 52 families or 209 individuals have evacuated from their homes due to the clashes. They are staying in four evacuation centers located in the villages og Calamba, Tacpao, Bulado and Humay-humay.
The local government has begun distributing food and basic necessities to the displaced families, while the Army continues to assess the security situation before allowing residents to return home. (PNA)
