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NPA rebel dies after 5-minute clash in Surigao Sur

By Alexander Lopez

May 11, 2020, 6:48 pm

<p><strong>CASUALTY. </strong>A communist New People’s Army is killed following a five-minute firefight in the Surigao del Sur town of Cantilan on Monday, May 11. The clash broke out after government forces responded to a civilian tip-off on the presence of suspected NPA rebels conducting 'extortion activities' in the area. <em>(Photo courtesy of 36IB)</em></p>

CASUALTY. A communist New People’s Army is killed following a five-minute firefight in the Surigao del Sur town of Cantilan on Monday, May 11. The clash broke out after government forces responded to a civilian tip-off on the presence of suspected NPA rebels conducting 'extortion activities' in the area. (Photo courtesy of 36IB)

BUTUAN CITY – A communist New People’s Army (NPA) combatant was killed in a fresh firefight between the rebels and the Philippine Army Monday morning (May 11) in Surigao del Sur.

Capt. Jonald Romorosa, the civil-military operations officer of the Army's 36th Infantry Battalion, said the encounter in Barangay Cabangahan, Cantilan town ensued when government forces responded to a civilian tip-off on the presence of suspected NPA rebels conducting "extortion activities" in the area.

Romorosa said the 10 NPA combatants belonging to the Guerrilla Front 16C-1 of the NPA's Northeastern Mindanao Regional Committee (NMRC) of the NPA were headed by a certain “Jacob”.

After a five-minute firefight, he said the NPA rebels retreated into the northeast direction and left the body of a dead comrade near the clash site.

Government forces recovered an AK-47 rifle with live ammunition, personal belongings, and documents with high intelligence value, the Army official said.

Lt. Col. Jezreel Diagmel, 36IB commander, lauded the residents in the area for providing the Army with vital information.

“This is a manifestation of the growing support of communities to the Army and the government and an expression of their disinclination and unwillingness of the presence of the NPA in their communities,” Diagmel said.

He also expressed grief over the death of an NPA combatant, saying the still-unidentified fighter was "another victim of the futile armed struggle and failed ideology of the communist movement in the country".

“I call on the remaining Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) NPA terrorists to surrender now and return to the fold of the law. Lay down your arms and return to your families,” Digamel said.

He added that the government is "always ready to accept NPA members" who will be assisted through the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (ECLIP) and other livelihood programs for returnees.

Romorosa said the recovered cadaver will be turned over to the barangay officials in the area and to the Philippine National Police (PNP) for identification and proper disposition, Romorosa said. (PNA)

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