The Philippine Army’s 79th Infantry Battalion (IB) is pursuing another fugitive New People’s Army (NPA) rebel identified as Alejandro “Kier” Montoya in continuing security operations in northern Negros.

Montoya is facing a string of criminal cases, such as carjacking, murder and acts of lasciviousness before he joined the NPA, police records showed.

In a media interview in Bacolod City yesterday, 79IB commander Lt. Colonel Eric Alfonso said that after the Northern Negros Front leader Roger Fabillar died in the Toboso encounter on April 19, operations continue to hunt down the other rebel remnants.

“Montoya is one of them. He is facing criminal cases. He is a fugitive,” he added.

Montoya shot to death his own brother Jhonhi at the covered court of Barangay Gawahon, Victorias City, in April last year.

On June 1, the encounter between 79IB soldiers and NPA remnants in Barangay Tamlang, Escalante City claimed the life of 29-year-old Private First Class Johnrey Brasil.

Brasil, who led the team of soldiers pursuing rebels who fled toward a populated area, succumbed to a gunshot wound to the head.

Alfonso assured residents of northern Negros that the 79IB troops will remain committed to their duty of protecting and ensuring peace for the Negrenses.

“We continue to appeal for support for the program of the government to promote peace. To the remaining members of the communist-terrorist group in Negros, the government has programs for those who want to return to the fold of the law,” he added.(PNA)