SEIZED. Photo shows the various items found after an encounter between soldiers from the 88th Infantry Battalion and New People’s Army in Sitio Bangkalawan, Barangay Lumintao, Quezon town on Saturday (Sept. 28, 2019). Killed was one of the NPA’s top leaders operating in southern Bukidnon, Joven Manggatawan, also known as “Amana.” (Photo courtesy of the Army’s 403rd Infantry Brigade)
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY -- A ranking New People’s Army (NPA) leader was killed in an encounter with government soldiers in a village in Bukidnon Saturday, the military on Sunday said.
A report released by the Philippine Army’s 403rd Infantry Brigade (403rd IBde) identified the slain NPA rebel as Joven Manggatawan, also known as “Amana.”
According to Capt. Ryan Layug, 403rd IBde spokesperson, Manggatawan was the leader of the Sentro de Grabidad platoon of the NPA’s Company Thunder, Subregional Command 2 of North Central Mindanao Regional Command that operates in the southern parts of Bukidnon.
Layug said the fallen NPA commander was killed during a gunfight between a group of about 20 NPA insurgents and the Army's 88th Infantry Battalion troops in Sitio Bangkalawan, Barangay Lumintao, Quezon town.
Manggatawan was identified by his former NPA fighters who have already surrendered, he said.
He said the retreating rebels left behind an assorted number of firearms and ammunition, two anti-personnel mines, assorted personal belongings, and subversive documents.
Layug said the Sentro de Grabidad has earlier claimed responsibility for the series of attacks on private and commercial farm properties and the destruction of civilian-owned equipment in southern Bukidnon.
Brig. Gen. Edgardo de Leon, 403rd IBde commander, said the brigade has “exhausted ways to reach out to the NPA as we tried to convince them to return to the fold of the law and live a peaceful life with their families.”
This effort, de Leon said, has resulted in the surrender of 110 regular NPA members, “but there are still those who opted to remain” with the revolutionary movement.
Maj. Gen. Franco Nemesio Gacal, commander of the Army’s 4th Infantry Division, called for the prosecution of NPA leaders involved in attacking civilians and civilian properties under the International Humanitarian Law, as provided under Republic Act 9851, or the Philippine Act on Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law, Genocide and Other Crimes Against Humanity.
“The victims must be indemnified by the CPP-NPA. The [National Democratic Front] must investigate and explain to the public why the NPA keeps on attacking civilians,” Gacal said, referring to the Communist Party of the Philippines, the NPA's mother organization, and NDF, the rebel movement's political arm.
The CPP-NPA is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, European Union, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines. (PNA)
