A RANKING leader of the New People’s Army (NPA) was killed in a law enforcement operation in North Cotabato, the military said Saturday, February 15.
Brigadier General Adonis Bajao, Army’s 1002nd Infantry Brigade commander, identified the slain NPA leader as Juanita Gore Tacadao, who carries the aliases of Ka Isay and Ka Maring, the logistics and finance officer of the Far South Mindanao Regional Committee.
Bajao said Tacadao was killed in a five-minute shootout after warrants of arrest were served against her at her hideout Friday noon at Sitio Lacobe in Malabuan Village, Makilala, Norte Cotabato.
The shootout ensued when the security personnel of Tacadao opened fire after noticing the arrival of joint military and police team who was about to serve warrants of arrest against the NPA ranking leader, he added.
The army official said Tacadao has standing warrants of arrest for the crimes of murder and robbery with violence against intimidation of person issued by the courts of Digos City, Davao del Sur and Kidapawan City, North Cotabato, respectively.
Bajao said the security personnel of Tacadao fled to different directions leaving behind her remains.
He said the troops recovered the remains of Tacadao, one M-14 rifle, one caliber .38 pistol, one improvised explosive device, two blasting caps, and a detonating cord at the hideout.
He added that killing of Tacadao came after the community provided information on her group’s whereabouts.
Meanwhile, patrolling troops of the Army’s 39th Infantry Battalion have recovered firearms and other personal belongings in another hideout of Tacadao on Friday afternoon at Sitio Blazan in the village of Malawanit, Magsaysay, Davao Del Sur.
Bajao said the recovered firearms included an M-16 Armalite rifle, one homemade 12-gauge shot gun, a hand grenade, a caliber 40-mm ammunition, food supplies, personal belongings and subversive documents of high intelligence value. (SunStar Zamboanga)