LEGAZPI CITY -- A leader and three members of the New People's Army (NPA) were killed in an armed encounter in Barangay Tugas, Magtnog town, Sorsogon province on Sunday, a 9th Infantry Division (9ID) official said Monday.
Army Maj. Ricky Aguilar, 9ID spokesperson, in a phone interview, identified the slain communist leader as Robert Estiller alias Cindy/Meo, commanding officer of Sentro De Grabidad (SDG), Larangan 2, Komiteng Probinsya 3 of the NPA's Bicol Regional Party Committee (BRPC) operating in the towns of Bulan, Irosin, Matnog, Magallanes, Castilla, and Juban, all in Bicol province.
Aguilar said government troops were conducting combat operations in response to a report on the rebels' presence in the area when they encountered more or less 60 NPA rebels.
"Firefight lasted for one hour and thirty minutes before the enemies withdrew and scurried to different directions, leaving their dead comrades behind," he said.
Aguilar, however, clarified that the encounter took place in Barangay Tugas, not Barangay Calpi as earlier reported by the Philippine National Police.
Aguilar said pursuit operations are still going on for the remaining NPA rebels who fled to the neighboring mountainous areas of the town.
Recovered from the scene of the firefight were four high-powered firearms including an M203 rifle, the report said.
Police checkpoints were set up in strategic areas and police forces were placed on standby for possible reinforcement.
It was learned that prior to the armed clash, the terrorists were having an assembly, planning for a tactical offensive and at the same time conducting extortion activities as part of their schemes days before the Communist Party of the Philippines' (CPP's) anniversary on December 26.
Maj. Gen. Fernando Trinidad, 9ID commander and chief of Joint Task Force Bicolandia (JTFB), immediately directed his men to conduct hot pursuit operations against the enemies and tighten the security in the area.
The JTFB also reminded the public to be wary of other illegal activities expected to be rolled out by the terrorists in connection with their upcoming anniversary.
Trinidad assured Bicolanos that JTFB will not put its guard down and will continue its intensified focused military operations to stop the armed group from perpetrating violence especially this holiday season.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) earlier emphasized that it would not declare a Christmas truce and would even strengthen its security measures against the enemies of the state that are planning to disrupt the joyful celebration of the Yuletide season.
On the other hand, JTFB once again reiterated the call of the government for the communist rebels to surrender and lay down their arms instead of participating in their group's useless cause, and help the government in its all-out campaign to end insurgency through the full-swing implementation of Executive Order 70 or the whole-of-nation approach.
Through EO 70, the Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (RTF-ELCAC) or Task Force Katuninongan asin Kauswagan is delivering more efficient and timely plans, programs and projects for the people including the former rebels, to assist them in reestablishing their lives outside the armed movement.
This Yuletide season, Trinidad is encouraging the NPAs to remember their families who are waiting for them, adding that the greatest gift they could give to them is their decision to go home, never to return to the mountains to hide and fight the government. (PNA)
