La Libertad: A suspected New People's Army (NPA) rebel was killed in an encounter with government troops on Monday evening in the remote Barangay Tala-on in La Libertad, Negros Oriental.

According to Philippines News Agency, Lt. Col. Evelio Ilanga, commanding officer of the Philippine Army's 62nd Infantry Battalion (62IB), stated that the site of the encounter was adjacent to Barangay Aya where armed men torched heavy equipment on Saturday evening. Ilanga noted that they are verifying a statement circulating online purportedly issued by the Leonardo Panaligan Command (LPC) of the NPA claiming responsibility for the destruction of the equipment.

The casualty was initially identified by an informant as Rolito Tanillo alias Gamatoy/Roy, a member of the Sangay Yunit Pampropaganda of the NPA's dismantled Central Negros 1 guerilla front, though this has yet to be confirmed. Personnel from the Philippine National Police's (PNP) Scene of the Crime Operatives were deployed on Tuesday to retrieve the body and bring it to the town proper. Additionally, an M-14 defaced rifle was recovered following the encounter.

The encounter occurred near the boundaries of Binalbagan in Negros Occidental and Guihulngan in Negros Oriental. Meanwhile, lawyer Jossil Macute, assistant regional election director of the Commission on Elections-Negros Island Region (Comelec-NIR), mentioned they are awaiting a report from the Philippine Army regarding the encounter. Macute conveyed confidence in the security contingency plans of the uniformed services for any eventuality that may affect the May 12 local and national elections. He added that it is still too early to determine whether the burning incident and the encounter relate to the elections.

The purported statement of the LPC, through its spokesperson Ka JB Regalado, claimed responsibility for burning the heavy equipment, alleging they serve huge industries under the guise of aiding farmers and residents in the hinterlands through the construction of a farm-to-market road.