Google map of Ozamiz City, Misamis Occidental.
ZAMBOANGA CITY -- A New People Army’s (NPA) leader was killed while seven ranking members were captured in two separate armed encounters with government troops in Ozamiz City, officials said Monday.
Col. Leonel Nicolas, the newly-installed Army’s 102nd Infantry Brigade commander, said none of the government troops was killed or wounded in the five-minute firefight that broke out around 5:50 a.m. Sunday in Barangay Bagakay, Ozamiz City.
Nicolas said another firefight took place several minutes later in Barangay Cogon that lasted for about 10 minutes, resulting in the death of a certain Ka Nasi.
Nicolas said the former NPA rebels, who earlier surrendered to authorities, identified Ka Nasi as a front secretary under the NPA’s Western Mindanao Regional Party Committee.
The seven captured NPA rebels consisted of a deputy secretary, platoon leaders, and section leaders, the Army official said.
He said troops from the Army’s 10th Infantry Battalion and 2nd Mobile Force Company seized an M-16 Armalite rifle, four cal.45 pistols, seven hand grenades, three motorcycles, anti-personnel mines, PHP50,000 "extortion money" and food items.
“This is a big blow to the NPA’s Guerilla front Sendong as well as the Western Mindanao Regional Party Committee and we expect that they will be disorganized and disgruntled,” said Nicolas, whose brigade has operational jurisdiction over Misamis Occidental.
Meanwhile, Maj. Gen. Roberto Ancan, Army’s 1st Infantry Division and Joint Task Force Zampelan (the Zamboanga Peninsula and Lanao Provinces) commander, commended the efforts of the troops that led to the successful neutralization of the NPA rebels.
“The neutralization of the NPA secretary and seven others is a significant accomplishment for the constituents in Misamis Occidental. The terroristic activities of the NPAs were preempted and will pave the way for more progress and development of the province,” Ancan said as he condoled with the family of the slain NPA leader.
“It is tragic that he took arms against the government which led to his senseless demise,” Ancan added.
The NPA, armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines, is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines. (PNA)
