By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga
A New People’s Army (NPA) member was killed, while another was captured by government forces in an encounter at Barangay Budlasan’s Sitio Malatanglad in Negros Oriental’s Canlaon City late Friday afternoon, April 28.
Authorities identified the fatality as 22-year-old Anthony “Miguel” Curson, a resident of Barangay Budlasan’s Sitio Natuling; while the captured NPA fighter was 46-year-old Leonido “Lanie/Dindo” Montero, also of the village’s Sitio Malatanglad.
They were reportedly part of the NPA’s Central Negros 1.
Lt. Colonel William Pesase, 62nd Infantry Battalion commander, said the gun battle lasted for five minutes.
The Army recovered two loaded .45 caliber pistols and two sling bags from the encounter site.
When the NPA members finally withdrew from the area, they left behind Curson’s remains, authorities say.
Meanwhile, Montero was later turned over to the police.
The police then served arrest warrants on Montero for illegal possession of firearms, illegal possession of explosives, and murder.
Montero also has another arrest warrant for violating the country’s omnibus election code.
The warrants were all issued by the Guihulngan City Regional Trial Court-Branch 64 in Negros Oriental.
All of Montero’s charges are non-bailable.
Government forces are still conducting a manhunt operation against the fleeing NPA members./DGB, WDJ