In a recent confrontation in the secluded Barangay Tala-on, La Libertad, Negros Oriental, a suspected member of the New People’s Army (NPA) was fatally shot during an encounter with the Philippine Army’s 62nd Infantry Battalion on the evening of February 10, 2025. The incident took place near Barangay Aya, where heavy machinery was set ablaze by armed individuals over the weekend, prompting suspicions of NPA involvement.
Lt. Col. Evelio Ilanga, the battalion’s commanding officer, reported that the NPA’s Leonardo Panaligan Command (LPC) has claimed responsibility for the arson attack on social media. The deceased was tentatively identified as Rolito Tanillo, also known as Gamatoy or Roy, a member of the NPA’s disbanded Central Negros 1 guerilla front, though this identification awaits official confirmation.
Following the clash, the Philippine National Police’s Scene of the Crime Operatives were dispatched to the scene to recover the body and transport it to the town center. Additionally, an M-14 rifle, which had been defaced, was retrieved from the site.
The encounter occurred near the border between Binalbagan in Negros Occidental and Guihulngan in Negros Oriental. The Commission on Elections-Negros Island Region (Comelec-NIR) is currently awaiting a detailed report from the Philippine Army. Assistant Regional Election Director Jossil Macute emphasized the readiness of security forces to handle any disruptions ahead of the upcoming May 12 elections, though it remains unclear if the recent incidents are election-related.
The LPC, through spokesperson Ka JB Regalado, justified the burning of the equipment, claiming it was used to support large industries under the pretense of aiding local farmers and residents through the development of farm-to-market roads.