SIX New People’s Army (NPA) rebels, including an NPA leader, were killed in a clash with government troops in the hinterlands of Sultan Kudarat, a top military official said Friday, November 25, 2022.
Major General Roy Galido, 6th Infantry Division commander, said the clash happened around 5:30 a.m. Thursday ib Sitio Mudti, Chua village, Bagumbayan, Sultan Kudarat.
Galido said the troops of the 7th Infantry Battalion were conducting security patrol when they chanced upon 10 NPA rebels led by Dennis Dulonan alias Kalbo, the deputy secretary of the East Daguma Front, Sub-Regional Committee Daguma, of the NPA’s Far-South Mindanao Region.
He said that the firefight lasted for about 30 minutes after which the NPA rebels scampered to different directions.
Galido said the troops recovered the remains of six slain NPA rebels, including that of Dulonan, during clearing operation at the clash site and its surrounding.
He said Dulonan has standing warrant of arrest for the crime of arson and frustrated murder.
Galido said the other slain NPA rebels include Lailyn, a medic and the wife of Dulonan, Sep Kasa and Jerry Kasa. The other two were unidentified.
The troops recovered three M-16 Armalite rifles, an AK-47 assault rifle, propaganda materials and personal belongings.
Meanwhile, Brigadier General Arturo Rojas, acting commander of the Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom), said the clash shows that the capability of the NPA has been significantly degraded.
“Rest assure that we will sustain our current campaign and strengthen our partnership with all stakeholders to destroy the remaining threat groups who refused to return to the folds of the law,” Rojas said. (SunStar Zamboanga)