TWO New People’s Army (NPA) rebels, including a leader, died in a clash with government troops in Cadiz City in Negros Occidental last Saturday, the military reported.
One of the fatalities was Hans Ponteras, who carries the aliases Jojo and Lance, the finance officer and secretary of the already-dismantled Komiteng Rehiyon —Negros, Cebu, Bohol, Siquijor (KR-NCBS).
Also slain was alias Kim, also of the same NPA unit.
The clash between troops from the Army’s 79th Infantry Battalion and remnants of KR-NCBS broke out in Barangay Caduhaan, said Col. Erwin Rommel Lamzon, spokesman of the Army’s 3rd Infantry Division (ID).
Lamzon said the rebels retreated after an eight-minute firefight, leaving behind the remains of Ponteras and Kim.
Recovered at the encounter site were an M16 rifle, a cal. 45 pistol, a hand grenade, one 40mm rifle grenade, five 40mm high explosives grenades, an M16 magazine, cal.45 pistol magazines, a laptop, a backpack containing personal belongings, a sling bag, and rebel documents.
No one was reported killed or injured on the military side.
Brig. Gen. Michael Samson, 3rd ID acting commander, said he was “deeply saddened” by the death of the two NPA rebels.
“Their deaths, caused by a false and misguided ideology, serve as a tragic reminder of the harm the communist insurgency inflicts on our people,” said Samson.
“It is heartbreaking to see another Negrense fall victim to these deceitful groups, and we acknowledge that each life lost is a failure to prevent them from choosing this violent path,” added Samson.
Samson urged the remaining rebels to “abandon this selfish and violent way of life,” referring to the armed struggle being waged by the communist movement for over five decades now.
“We strongly urge the remaining members of CTG (communist terrorist group) to rethink their actions and abandon this path of violence. The Army will continue its efforts to dismantle these terror groups and ensure that such senseless deaths do not continue,” said Samson.
Samson said that while the military is committed to “safeguarding peace,” they cannot accomplish this on their own.
“We call on everyone to work together in rejecting the lies of these insurgents and helping bring an end to this cycle of death and destruction. We will not rest until every Negrense is free from the threat of terrorism and can live in a peaceful, prosperous Negros Island,” said Samson.
