CAMP BANCASI, Butuan City – Five alleged top officials of the New People’s Army (NPA) were among the 15 guerrillas killed in a series of fierce clashes between the rebel group and the Philippine Army at the border of Agusan del Norte and Misamis Oriental, the military reported Friday.
Brig. Gen. Maurito L Licudine, commanding general of the Army’s 402nd Infantry (Stingers) Brigade, said the remains of the three killed NPA officials were turned over to the local government of Gingoog City for proper identification, burial and disposition.
The key slain personalities were identified by their former comrades as certain “Ka Gian”, secretary of Guerrilla Front (GF) 4-A; certain “Ka Lema”, finance officer of the CPP-NPA North Central Mindanao Regional Committee (NCMRC); one “Ka Sangka”, platoon commander of SYP “Sikop”; and “Ka Aloy”, political officer of GF 4-A.
The series of encounters in the hinterlands of Agusan del Norte and Kamanikan area in Gingoog City, Misamis Oriental started at 4 a.m. on May 10, 2020.
The initial skirmishes resulted in the killing of 10 NPA fighters.
The rebels scampered in different directions, but the government troops pursued them deep in the forested areas, killing five more NPA rebels during the running gunbattle, Brig. Gen. Licudine said.
The soldiers seized at the encounter sites two M16 Armalite rifles, one AK47 rifle, a carbine rifle, one M14 rifle with assorted magazines and live ammunition, communication gadgets and devices, bomb-making materials including 10 anti-personal mines (APM), assorted medical items and personal belongings of the rebels, the brigade commander reported.
Troops of the 23rd Infantry (Masigasig) Battalion under the 402nd Brigade clashed again with about 80 fleeing rebels on Tuesday.
Licudine said the rebels belong to the Guerrilla Front 4-A (GF 4-A) of the CPP-NPA North Central Mindanao Committee (NCMRC).
He said his troops engaged the NPA after responding to reports from the villagers about the rebels’ presence and extortion activities in the area.
The remains of the killed rebels are now at Mata Funeral Homes and St. Peter San Guillermo Funeral Homes in Gingoog City. (Mike U. Crismundo)