Young alleged NPA fighter killed in Leyte

November 28, 2020

A young alleged New People's Army (NPA) fighter was killed in a clash with government troops in Leyte on Friday afternoon.

Capt. Kaharudin Cadil, civil military operations officer of the 802nd Infantry Brigade, said the Kananga Municipal Police Station said the fatality was a certain Rochelle Mae Bacalso alias Ruth or Justine, "about 21 years old, said to be a newly-recruited member of the remnants of Sub-Regional Committee Levox, Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee.''

"The attending physician declared her dead when brought to the Kananga Municipal Hospital, where the troops rushed her in an attempt to save her life," he said.

Cadil said Bacalso who sustained gunshot wounds was among the undetermined number of terrorists who attempted to ambush a team of soldiers patrolling at the vicinity of Sitio Mat-i, Barangay Mahawan, Kananga at 3:35 pm.

"The soldiers were deployed to check reports from local residents on the presence of armed persons who were suspected to be communist terrorists," he said.

"Captured from the encounter site were one Austrian-made Glock pistol, one bandoleer for M16 magazines, one magazine for M16 rifle with 29 pieces of caliber 5.56 ammunition, one backpack with personal belongings, one cellular phone, four hammocks, four poncho tents, and documents with high intelligence value," he added.

Cadil recalled that "in the aftermath of the first armed encounter between 93rd IB troops and the same marauding CPP-NPA band led by a certain Juanito Selleza alias Tibor, the 802nd Infantry  Brigade, 8ID, PA posted in its Facebook Page photos of a certain Ruth alias Justine who was identified as a member of the engaged communist terrorist group."

"The 802 Brigade appealed to the public then for help in locating her family in Samar Island or elsewhere in Eastern Visayas in a bid to rescue her from the communist terrorist group that deceived her into joining the armed struggle," he said.

"Facial photos taken from the remains of the female NPA casualty whom the police identified as Rochelle Mae Bacalso matched with the photos of Ruth alias Justine, which were downloaded from her Facebook account bearing the pseudo name of 'Kenlyn Mark.' Three unmistakable moles under her lower lip confirmed her identity," he added. Robina Asido/DMS