Alleged NPA leaders killed in Novaliches part of kill squad: Año

December 22, 2019

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año on Saturday said the alleged New People’s Army (NPA) leaders killed in an encounter in Quezon City last Thursday is part of the assassination team to kill President Rodrigo Duterte and other senior government officials.

“These NPA leaders are part of the special teams directed by the CPP leadership to assassinate senior government officials that include the President,” Año said in a statement.

“But we got to them first and we will not stop until every one of them is arrested and brought before the bar of justice,” he said.

Last December 19, a firefight in Novaliches, Quezon City which resulted in the death of Eleuterio Sadyaw Agmaliw alias Omeng and Freddie Dailed alias Poldo, who are facing cases of destructive arson, murder and frustrated murder.

Also killed in the encounter was Lucio Carbonell, owner of the safe house and the NPA liaison in Metro Manila.

Not only Duterte but also Año, National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon, and General Antonio Parlade is part of NPA Special Partisan unit’s hit list, said Año.

Año said special composite teams have been deployed to hunt down the NPA Special Partisan Units ordered by the CPP to conduct assassinations of government figures ahead of the NPA’s anniversary on Dec 26.

The interior secretary said communist rebels have now no place to hide.

“As I promised, we will get you first even before you get near us. There is no safe place for you in Metro Manila and in any urban center around the country. So if I were you, you better surrender, he said.

Año also commended the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) “for their hard work and perseverance in going after and crushing the enemies of the state and of democracy.”

He also directed the PNP to provide the necessary assistance to the two members of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team who were wounded during the shootout. Ella Dionisio/DMS