TWO New People’s Army rebels, one of them a leader, were killed, while another leader was arrested and 12 others were captured in military operations in Samar, Iloilo, and Oriental Mindoro provinces, the military said on Sunday.
One of the slain rebels was identified as Noel Galvez, leader of the remaining communist rebels in Samar, said Capt. Reynaldo Aragones, spokesman of the Samar-based 3rd Infantry Division.
Aragones said Galvez was killed in a firefight with troops from the Army’s 46th Infantry Battalion in Barangay Buluan in Calbiga town at around 5:15 p.m. on Saturday. Galvez’ four companions managed to flee.
No one was killed or injured on the military side during the brief firefighting.
Soldiers recovered at the encounter site an M14 rifle and an improvised explosive device weighing seven kilos.
“The gunfight was the result of the timely report of some concerned civilians pertaining the presence of the CNTs (CPP-NPA Terrorists) led by Galvez harassing the populace,” said Aragones.
Aragones said Galvez’ group was behind the April 9 killing of former NPA member Ildefonso Nablo Jr. who had been helping the military in convincing NPA rebels to surrender.
In Iloilo, a still unidentified NPA rebel was killed and a rebel camp was captured in a firefight with soldiers from the 61st Infantry Battalion in Barangay Cabalaunan in Miagao town in Iloilo at around 10:20 a.m. Saturday.
Capt. Cenon Pancito, spokesman of the Capiz-based 8th Infantry Division, said the operation was conducted based on information from residents who are victims of rebel extortion and intimidation.
Pancito said the 35-minute clash also resulted in the capture of 11 other rebels, including a 14-year-old boy, and seizure of M1 Garand rifle, a KG9 sub-machine gun, a cal. 45 pistol, an IED, medical paraphernalia and rebel documents.
In Oriental Mindoro, an NPA leader Lordan Malucon, alias Jandie, was captured by troops under the Army’s 203rd Brigade in Barangay Lupa in Gloria town on Friday morning, said Capt. Jayrald Ternio, spokesman of the Rizal-based 2nd Infantry Division.
Ternio said Malucon is the vice platoon leader of the Platun Dos under the NPA’s Sub Regional Military Area 4D operating in Oriental Mindoro.
Ternio said soldiers clashed with Malucon’s group which he said has been forcing residents to share to the NPA part of benefits they got from the government’s Social Amelioration Program amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ternio said soldiers traded fire with Malucon’s group for 35 minutes.
Apart from capturing Malucon, the soldiers also recovered an M16 rifle, a cal .45 pistol, a hand grenade, assorted ammunition, bomb components, personal effects and documents with high intelligence value.
