Himamaylan city: A remnant of the New People’s Army (NPA) died in a clash with troopers of the Philippine Army’s 94th Infantry Battalion (IB) in the hinterlands of Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental on Tuesday. The fatality, identified as Ruben Tingal, was a squad leader of the dismantled NPA Central Negros 2 front.

According to Philippines News Agency, 94IB commander Lt. Col. Ziegfred Tayaban reported that Tingal died in an encounter past 7 a.m. at Sitio Cabagal in Barangay Buenavista. In a telephone interview, Tayaban mentioned that the Philippine National Police scene of the crime operatives are conducting processing of the encounter site, after which, they plan to turn over the cadaver to the local government unit of Himamaylan City.

Tayaban added that troopers of 94IB conducted a security operation after receiving information from farmers in the area regarding the extortion activities of Tingal’s group. Based on military information, Tingal is part of the NPA remnants operating not only in Himamaylan, but also in the adjacent areas of Kabankalan City and Binalbagan town.

The group is also believed to be responsible for killings of civilians in these two localities and the torching of heavy equipment in Barangay Carabalan, also in Himamaylan, in July this year.