GOVERNMENT security units neutralized another high-ranking New People’s Army (NPA) official and two others from a series of clashes in Davao De Oro on Sunday morning, March 27, 2022.
In a press release, the 10th Infantry Battalion (IB) said the clash happened in Barangay Tupaz, Maragusan, resulting in the neutralization of Ezequiel Cortez Daguman alias Rey, central committee member of the Communist Party of the Philippines, deputy secretary and head of the Intelligence Operations, Regional Operational Command (ROC), Southern Mindanao Regional Command (SMRC); Ruel Baylon alias James, a former member of the Pulang Bagani Command (PBC) and was later transferred to ROC, SMRC; and Quirino Remegio alias Jelly/Manoy, a member of iskwad Baking, ROC, and a former member of Weakened Guerilla Front 2 who was transferred to ROC, SMRC.
Daguman has existing warrants of arrest to include kidnapping and serious illegal detention, double murder, and robbery with violence.
The troops also recovered seven high-powered firearms: one M4 rifle, one M16A1 rifle, one CZ858 AK47 rifle, and two M4 rifles both attached with M203 grenade launchers.
One anti-personnel improvised explosive device with several 40 millimeter (mm) high-explosive munitions, personal belongings, medical paraphernalia, and subversive documents with high intelligence value were found at the encounter sites.
Captain Mark Anthony Tito, 10IB spokesman, told SunStar Davao in an online interview that they were able to locate the whereabouts of the rebels through a tip from a resident.
"May nag-report na concerned citizen sa (We received report from a concerned citizen of the) presence sa (of an) armed group in the area that led to the encounter ," Tito said.
Meanwhile, 10ID Commander Major General Nolasco A Mempin commended its recent activity to clear more grounds from the communist terror group" infestation" in the province.
“Your Agila Troopers will continue to pursue the remaining Communist NPA Terrorists in Southern Mindanao, and will not rest until the whole area of 10ID will be free from the presence of the CPP-NPA-NDF [Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front],” Mempin said.
The recent encounter comes after the 1001st Brigade six clashes, which led to the neutralization of top NPA personalities to include Menandro Villanueva, secretary of NPA’s Komisyong Mindanao, and the recovery of war materiel in January this year.
On February 24, Chad Booc alias Chad, a teacher who was charged with human trafficking of indigenous peoples (IP) children from Talaingod, Davao del Norte to Cebu, was among the five suspected NPA members in an encounter in Purok 8, Barangay Andap, New Bataan, Davao de Oro.
The Save Our Schools Network (SOSN), however, denied the claims of the military that Booc's neutralization was a result of an encounter.
The group also sought justice and called for a thorough investigation on what happened between government forces and the SMRC.