By Mark L. Garcia
Bacolod City – Three alleged members of a criminal gang fell dead Friday following an encounter with troopers of the Regional Public Safety Battalion (RPSB) 6 in Brgy. Cambayobo, Calatrava, Negros Occidental.
Chief Inspector John Joel Batusbatusan, Calatrava police chief, said the fatalities, identified as Sabino Mancao, Ramil Castor and Emar Himang, succumbed to multiple gunshot wounds.
Surviving the same encounter were gang members Romnick Octavio, Pepe Lausa and Josie Castor. They are now under police custody.
Some three other gang members’ eluded arrest.
RPSB 6 troopers led by Chief Inspector Yolando Lago Jr. and Senior Inspector Ryan Villasario, recovered two homemade .357 revolvers, two .38 caliber revolver, a KG 9 automatic pistol, and a 12-gauge shotgun at the encounter site.
Batusbatusan said the slain Mancao was an expelled New People’s Army (NPA) rebel who, along with the rest of his gang, have resorted to engaging in various criminal activities.