Three alleged NPAs killed in Laguna

August 5, 2020

Three alleged members of the New People’s Army (NPA) were killed in a firefight against members of Regional Mobile Force Battalion 4A (Calabarzon) in Laguna last Tuesday. According to Philippine National Police chief General Archie Francisco Gamboa, the troops were scouting for a sheltering area relative to Oplan Dirty Dozen project of Calabarzon police when they encountered around 40 armed men which resulted to a one-hour fire fight ensued in Barangay San Antonio, Kalayaan. Killed in the encounter were Dioscorro Cello alias Ka Termo, and two others known only as Ka Omar/Efren and Ka Danny/Mar/Rey. Gamboa said Cello is the platoon leader of Platun Laguna-Quezon, Melito Glor command, main regional guerilla Unit, Southern Tagalog Region, and general secretary of Cesar Batrallo Command. He is also a subject of an arrest order with a P3.8 million reward for information leading to his capture. “The Philippine National Police condemns in the strongest terms the latest act of hostility of the New People’s Army in Laguna amid the health crisis we are facing right now,” Gamboa said. Troops recovered from the slain insurgents four assault rifles, a grenade launcher, improvised explosive device,  triggering devices, radio transceivers and hundreds of rounds of assorted ammunition. Gamboa commended the members of Regional Mobile Force Battalion 4A for their immediate action. To avoid similar incidents, he reminded all police regional offices to be more vigilant, enhance personnel security and conduct preventive and proactive operations in coordination with Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) units against communist rebels, lawless elements and criminal groups. Ella Dionisio/DMS