Alleged NPA member killed in clash with troops in Iloilo

July 1, 2020

An alleged member of the New People's Army (NPA) was killed in a clash with government troops in Iloilo province last Monday, a military official said on Wednesday.

Maj. Cenon Pancito III, public affairs chief of the 3rd Infantry Division, said the troops of Army’s 61st Infantry Battalion encountered the rebels at the vicinity of Sitio Lay, Barangay Dalije, in Miagao town at about 11: 10 a.m.

Pancito said the Southern Front of the CPP-NPA (Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army) in Panay suffered another setback with this.

"The firefight erupted while the troops were conducting combat operation in response to the ‘tip-off’ from the civilian populace on the presence of armed NPAs in the area," he said.

"Aside from a body count, the troops also recovered an M16 rifle, three backpacks, and subversive documents with high intelligence value from the encounter site," he added.

Pancito said following the clash, Major General Eric Vinoya, commander of the 3rd Infantry Division, commended the troops for another successful operation.

"The result of the encounter is concrete proof that government and people’s unity always yield a better result,” he added.

While Vinoya lauded the strong partnership of the Army troops and the people in the area in solving the decades-long insurgency problem, he also extended sympathy to the bereaved family of the slain NPA member.

 “May his death will serve as a reflection to all the remaining members and victims of fake promises and false ideology of the communist-terrorist group who are still waging senseless armed struggle," Vinoya said.

"His death is also a strong reminder that armed struggle will only bring sorrows and miseries, thus, I am encouraging other members of the group to surrender while they still have time to avoid the same fate,” he added.

Pancito recalled that last April 18, the Southern Front of the CPP-NPA Terrorist also incurred a loss in an encounter with the 61st IB in an uninhabited area near Sitio Anoy, Barangay Cabalaunan in the same town.

He said the encounter also resulted to the death of an NPA member identified as John Farochilin and the capture of several others. Robina Asido/DMS