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BACOLOD CITY — Two alleged regional leaders of the dismantled Northern Negros Front's Komiteng Rehiyon-Negros, Cebu, Bohol, Siquijor (KR-NCBS) died in an armed encounter with government troops on Saturday at Hacienda Paraiso, Barangay Caduhaan, Cadiz City, Negros Occidental.
1Lt. Dan Carlo Samoza, 79th Infantry Battalion Civil Military Operations officer, said that 79IB soldiers clashed with about seven rebels in a gun battle that lasted about 10 minutes.
He said the fleeing rebels left behind their two slain comrades.
Recovered from the encounter site were an M16 assault rifle with a magazine containing ammunition, a caliber.45 pistol and two magazines with ammunition, a hand grenade, a 40 mm high explosive grenade, rifle grenade, a laptop, a backpack and a sling bag.
Lt. Col. Arnel Calaoagan, 79IB commander, identified the two slain rebels as Hans Ponteras, with aliases of Jojo, Lance, Teddy and Hans, finance officer of the Regional Taxation Implementing Group of KR-NCBS, and Marissa Pobresa, who is also known as Kim, Renz and Mia.
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Calaoagan, in a radio interview, said that Pobresa served as the Regional Communication Officer.
He said that the remains of Pobresa were already claimed by her family at a funeral parlor, but the remains of Ponteras are still unclaimed at press time.
Ponteras has a pending arrest warrant for attempted murder, issued by the Kabankalan Regional Trial Court, according to the 79IB.
No casualties were reported on the government side.
Last month, 79IB soldiers also figured in an encounter with rebels in the same barangay where government troops recovered extortion letters addressed to some sugar planters and businessmen, Samoza said.
He also raised the possibility that the armed rebels recently encountered by 79IB soldiers also engaged in extortion activities related to the May 12, 2025 elections.
