THE New People Army's (NPA) has suffered a setback, as one of its leaders was killed while seven ranking officials were captured after two separate clashes with government troops in Ozamiz City.

Colonel Leonel Nicolas, newly-installed Army's 102nd Infantry Brigade commander, said the first firefight broke out around 5:50 a.m. Sunday, August 25, in the village of Bagakay, Ozamiz City.

Nicolas said no one was reported killed or injured in the first clash, which lasted for about five minutes.

Nicolas said the second firefight ensued several minutes later in the village of Cogon and lasted for about 10 minutes. Killed in the incident was a certain Ka Nasi or Ka Felix.

Nicolas said the former NPA rebels in Misamis Occidental, who returned to the folds of the law, identified Ka Nasi as the secretary of Guerilla front Sendong of the NPA's Western Mindanao Regional Party Committee (WMRPC).

He said the seven captured NPA rebels were deputy secretary, platoon leaders, and section leaders.

He said the joint troops from the Army's 10th Infantry Battalion and 2nd Mobile Force Company have recovered one M-16 Armlite rifle, four caliber .45 pistols, seven hand grenades, three motorcycles, improvised explosive components, P50,000 extortion money and food stuffs.

The slain NPA leader was given a decent burial in coordination with the City Government of Ozamiz.

Nicolas said the death of Ka Nasi is a big blow to the NPA's Guerilla front Sendong as well as the WMRPC, and "we expect that they will be disorganized and disgruntled."

Meanwhile, Major General Roberto Ancan, Army's 1st Infantry Division and Joint Task Force Zampelan (Zamboanga Peninsula and Lanao Provinces) commander, commended the efforts of the troops that led to the successful neutralization of the NPA rebels.

"The neutralization of the NPA secretary and seven others is a significant accomplishment for the constituents in Misamis Occidental. The terroristic activities of the NPAs was preempted and will pave the way for more progress and development of the province," Ancan said.

"It is tragic that he took arms against the government which led to his senseless demise," Ancan said, as he expressed condolences to the family of the slain NPA leader. (SunStar Philippines)