Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) troops file photo
MANILA -- Supporters of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) expressed their gratitude online about a report that leaders of New People’s Army (NPA) rebels were killed in a firefight.
Kalinaw News, a social media news site supportive of the AFP, published on its site about NPA leaders Eleuterio Sadyaw and Freddie Daileg’s death during a PNP law enforcement operation joined by AFP troops in Novaliches, Quezon City on Thursday.
Netizen Luis Villamor congratulated government troops "for a successful operation and good intel," as he expressed prayers "for the full and speedy recovery of the wounded PNP personnel”.
The 45-minute firefight which started 3:30 a.m. Thursday also resulted in the death of another unidentified NPA member and wounding of two PNP personnel.
The post gained a thousand shares and 1.8K reactions from the netizens as of posting.
Rose Feniza commented: “Mabuhay ang Pilipinas! God bless PNP and AFP personnel, a big salute to all of you!!!”
Another netizen named Magdadaro Arnel also cited that AFP-PNP operations should be funded more because their information gathering and other activities are extensive.
“The government must give their full support to our law enforcement agencies most especially to the AFP to [keep on gathering] more information [regarding] rebel groups nationwide so that they can easily search and create combat operations against them,” he said.
President Rodrigo Duterte, in an effort to solve communist insurgency, signed Executive Order (EO) 70, which seeks to institute a "whole of government" approach in addressing communist insurgency.
AFP spokesperson, Marine Brig. Gen. Edgard Arevalo, in a statement, also lauded the troops’ victory, saying this struck another devastating blow to one of the groups that is determined to carry out “liquidation missions” against government officials from the security sector in Manila and other key cities.
"Residents near their safehouse in Damong Maliit, Novaliches were relieved to know that these fugitives who are wanted for destructive arson, murder, frustrated murder, and rebellion were neutralized," Arevalo said.
"We thank the people in community for the valuable information and the diligence and dedication of our soldiers and policemen that led to the death of the named wanted terrorists," he added.
In an interview Thursday, Jimson Masangkay, CMO Officer of the 703rd Brigade who has operational supervision of the 84th Infantry Battalion, said this victory means a lot because government enemies in Central Luzon will be demoralized at the loss of their leaders.
“This is an indication that all agencies of the government are coordinating to fast-track the campaign against insurgency under this administration,” he said.
The operation was supposed to just serve warrants of arrest to Sadyaw and Daileg for destructive arson, murder, frustrated murder, and rebellion.
The initial spot report added that the suspects fired at the arresting officers.
Recovered from the safe house were an M16 rifle, .45-caliber pistol, hand grenades, improvised explosive device components and subversive documents. (PNA)
