FIFTEEN New People’s Army rebels were killed in a series of firefights with government troops in Gingoog City in Misamis Oriental on Sunday to Tuesday, the military reported Thursday.
The firefight between troops from the Army’s 23rd Infantry Battalion and about 80 rebels happened in Barangay Kamanikan at around 4 p.m. Sunday, according to Maj. Francisco Garello, spokesman of the Army’s 402nd Brigade in Butuan City.
Garello said soldiers launched the combat operation after the rebels, belonging to the NPA’s Guerrilla Front 4-A, were reported by residents to be conducting extortion activities. He said the fighting left 10 rebels dead.
Garello said relentless pursuit operations led to four more encounters between the two sides, the last one on Tuesday, that led to the death of five more rebels.
Garello said five high-powered firearms, assorted magazines and ammunition, communication gadgets and devices, 10 anti-personnel mines, assorted medical items and personal belongs were recovered by troops.
Garello said four of the slain communists were rebel leaders identified as one alias Gian, secretary of the Guerrilla Front 4A; alias Aloy, the front’s political officer; alias Lema, a finance officer of the NPA’s North Central Mindanao Committee; and alias Sanka, platoon leader of Samahang Yunit Pampropaganda Sikop.
402nd Brigade commander Col. Maurito Licudine offered his condolences to the families of the slain rebels.
Licudine also urged the families of the fleeing rebels to reach out to their loved ones and convince them to surrender.
“To those CNT (CPP-NPA Terrorist) members who are still out there, we urge you to lay down your arms and submit yourselves to any government officials in your community or to the nearest Army camp,” said Licudine
