FIFTY-FOUR New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in the Visayas have been “neutralized” by government troops last month, the military reported yesterday.
Nineteen of the neutralized insurgents died, including a rebel leader who perished — along with two of her men — in an encounter with Army soldiers in Leon, Iloilo last Friday.
The slain rebel leader was identified as Rebecca Alfaro, alias Jing, secretary of the NPA’s Southern Front of the Panay Regional Party Committee. The two others who died in the clash were Jimmy Macuana, alias Dennis; and Gerlyn Tejeros, alias Elay.
Apart from last Friday’s encounter in Iloilo, two other major engagements occurred between soldiers and rebels last month in the Visayas — one in Bilar, Bohol and the other in Kabankalan City in Negros Oriental that led to the death of 12 rebels.
AFP Visayas Command (Viscom) spokesman Lt. Col. Israel Galorio said the military initiated 12 encounters with the rebels last month, leading to the death of the 19 rebels.
Thirty-four of the 54 rebels who were neutralized last month surrendered while three were apprehended, said Galorio.
Galorio said a total of 38 assorted firearms and nine anti-personnel mines were seized by the military during the same period.
Viscom commander Lt. Gen. Benedict Arevalo attributed the series of NPA setbacks to the growing support of the populace to the military’s fight against the rebels.
