A NEW People’s Army (NPA) rebel was killed while another NPA rebel surrendered to authorities in Central Mindanao area, the military reported Friday, July 28.
Major General Alex Rillera, Joint Task Force (JTF)-Central commander, said the NPA rebel was killed while two high-powered firearms were recovered following a clash with the troops in Limulan village, Kalamansig, Sultan Kudarat.
“The Joint Task Force Central continues to employ more pressure on the remaining CTG members to gain more enemy strongholds and dismantle their groups,” JTF Central Commander Major General Alex Rillera said.
Rillera said the clash broke out when the troops of the 37th Infantry Battalion chanced upon a group of NPA rebels while they were conducting combat operation in Limulan village, Kalamansig.
Rillera said the firefight lasted for about 20 minutes that resulted in the death of one NPA rebel and the recovery of two M14 rifles, a grenade and a backpack of personal belongings.
Rillera said the rest of the NPA rebels have scampered to different directions.
The identity of the slain NPA was not immediately identified except that the rebels who figured in the clash belong to the Sub-Regional Committee Daguma of the NPA’s Far South Mindanao Region.
“The Joint Task Force Central continues to employ more pressure on the remaining CTG (Communist Terrorist Group) members to gain more enemy strongholds and dismantle their groups,” Rillera said.
He said the remains of the slain NPA rebel were turned over to Kalamansig Municipal Police Station for proper identification and disposition.
Lieutenant General Roy Galido, commander of Western Mindanao Command, said they will intensify the conduct of combat operations against the remaining members of the NPA.
“We still encourage the remaining members of the CTG and other threat groups to lay down their arms and start a peaceful life with their families,” Galido said.
Meanwhile, an NPA rebel identified only as Ka Joko has surrendered to the 34th Infantry Battalion in Guiling village, Alamada, North Cotabato on Wednesday, July 26.
Joko is a member of Squad 3, Platoon Fury, Sub-Regional Committee 5, of the NPA’s North Central Mindanao Regional Committee.
Brigadier General Donald Gumiran, 602nd Infantry Brigade commander, attributed the surrender of Ka Joko to the collaborative efforts of the military units under his command and the 11th Brigade of the Bangsamoro Armed Forces-Moro National Liberation Front.
Ka Joko revealed during the initial debriefing that he was starving and having a hard time evading the military forces.
“Feeling tired and weary, he decided to surrender to the government forces,” Gumiran said. (SunStar Zamboanga)