CAMP DOWNES, Ormoc City -- During the pursuit operation following the bloody encounter at Barangay Lawgawan, Bontoc, Southern Leyte late morning on Wednesday, August 18, troops of the 14th Infantry (Avenger) Battalion, 8ID, PA discovered from a small wooden house not far from the scene of engagement four cellphones, several identification cards, eight medical clearances issued by the Municipal Health Office of Jabonga, Agusan del Norte on April 28, 2021 for the travel of eight residents of Barangay Magdagooc, Jabonga, photos of few individuals, other documents and some personal belongings.

Likewise, the wall of the house intriguingly bear the marking: “Komander GAS God bless our home Pulang Araw.”

Lt. Col. Ernesto dela Rosa, 14IB commander, believed that the discovered documents were left by the fleeing members of the CPP-NPA band that clashed with the operating troops of 14IB. However, the real identities of those that appear in the ID and the medical certificates need to be further verified.

The following names appeared in the medical clearances and some in the identification cards: Carmelo A. Arcibal, Elnar G. Aplan, Narciso G. Aplan, Albert M. Galecia, Regalado R. Palomo, Rolando Aplan, and Danny Bolambot.

While it is not certain that those names appearing in the documents are indeed CPP-NPA-NDF terrorists, there is still a need to ascertain why those papers were found near the encounter site.

Brigadier General Zosimo Oliveros, 802nd Brigade commander, calls on the families, relatives, friends and those who know these people to come out into the open and help authorities determine the circumstances behind the subject individuals. (802Bde, 8ID, PA)