LEGAZPI CITY – A leader of the New People's Army (NPA) communist terrorist group (CTG) was killed on Tuesday in a clash with government troops in Barangay San Bernardo, Bulusan town, Sorsogon province.
In an interview on Wednesday, Army Capt. John Paul Belleza, 9th Infantry Division (9ID) Public Affairs spokesperson, said the slain rebel, identified as Ian Estrellado alias 'Ela/Karding', was a member of a guerrilla front operating in Sorsogon province".
He said an Army and police composite team was about to serve an arrest warrant to Estrellado who is facing a murder complaint, when the suspect, together with his companions, fired upon the troops.
Belleza said a brief gunfight ensued between the rebels and the government law enforcers that led to the killing of Estrellado. No one was hurt on the government side.
“Recovered from the scene was a Carbine with two magazines and a hand grenade,” he added.
Estrellado was positively identified by former rebels as the vice commanding officer of Platoon 1, Larangan 1, Komiteng Probinsya 3 of the Bicol Regional Party Committee.
Brig. Gen. Henry Robinson Jr., Joint Task Force (JTF) Bicolandia commander, earlier directed the troops to tighten security measures in the area as they hunt down terrorists who were coddling Estrellado.
“Brig. Gen. Robinson also assured the Bicolanos that JTF Bicolandia will continue to work hand in hand with other law enforcement agencies to ensure that justice is served to all the victims of CTG's atrocities,” he added.
The Army continues to call on members of the terrorist group to value lives and to return to the fold of the law.
“Kasabay ng ipinatutupad naming intensified military operations ay ang aming pagnanais at layunin na kayo ay tulungan sa pamamagitan ng iba't ibang mga benepisyo at programa ng gobyerno upang kayo ay makapagsimulang muli kasama ang inyong pamilya (As we implement intensified military operations, we aim to help through different government programs so that you could start leading a new life with your family)," Robinson said in a statement. (PNA)
