By DANNY J. ESTACIO, With report from Lyka Manalo
CAMP NAKAR, Lucena City – 15 New People’s Army (NPA) guerrillas, including their unit leader, died following an encounter against military forces in Nasugbu, Batangas, Wednesday evening.
In a report, Major General Rhoderick Parayno, commander of the Second Division of the Philippine Army (2IDPA), said the skirmish occurred around 8:20 p.m. at the vicinity of Sitio Pinamantasan, Barangay Aga, with the 730th combat Group running into the rebels who were onboard a jeepney and a van.
Two other NPA militias were hurt in the fire fight.
One, identified as Josephine Santiago Lapera alias Ella, 22, later expired due to the wounds she sustained.
The other, identified as Victoriano Almario, is still undergoing treatment as of this writing.
“We put a premium on the lives of our fellow Filipinos that is why when they lost their ability to fight, we extended a helping hand, to save them and give them the chance to defend themselves before the court of law,” Burgos said.
On the side of the government, five soldiers, among them Philippine Air Force (PAF) Major Engilberto A. Nioda Jr., 2Lt. Eliseo Incierto, PAF, and Philippine Army (PA) TSG Kenneth Lopez, were wounded.
Parayno said the NPA fighters were remnants of a cluster encountered by the 730th Combat Group under Maj. Engelberto Nioda last Nov. 20, in Brgy. Utod in Nasugbo.
Brig. Gen. Arnulfo Marcelo B. Burgos Jr., commander of the 202nd Infantry Brigade, believes the death of the unidentified top cadre signals the end of insurgency in Batangas.
Among those recovered from the rebels were 12 assorted high-powered firearms.
Meanwhile, Chief Inspector Rogelio B. Pineda, Nasugbupolice chief, reported a separate gun battle with several armed individuals in Sitio Batulao, Barangay Kaylaway the same date.
Senior Superintendent Alden Delvo, Batangas Acting Provincial Director, said 8 males and 1 female were killed in the encounter.
There were no reported casualties on the side of the military.