By Francis Wakefield
A notorious Communist New People’s Army (NPA) Terrorist Leader with a standing warrant for multiple murder was killed during a combined Philippine National Police (PNP) and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) law enforcement operation in Sindangan, Zamboanga del Norte.
The combined PNP and AFP Law Enforcement Operations was conducted by elements of the AFP’s Joint Task Group IGSOON and the Zamboanga del Norte Provincial Office against Edwin Lapinig alias Baz for his standing warrant of arrest charged for murder in criminal case number TC-2017-140 issued by Regional Trial Court 10th Judicial Region, Branch 16, Tangub City.
Lapinig.was the Commander of the Platoon BASIL of the Mobile Regional Guerilla Unit (MRGU) of the Western Mindanao Regional Party Committee (WMRPC) of the New People’s Army (NPA) responsible for the murders of two AFP soldiers, the disarming of PNP personnel at Don Victoriano Chiongbian Municipality of the Province of Misamis Occidental, and the series of arson of development construction equipment in the Zamboanga Peninsula.
Lapinig was killed when he fired at the combined PNP and AFP forces which prompted the government forces to fire back.
Two soldiers were also wounded as a result of the law enforcement operation.
Major General Roseller Murillo, Commander of the AFP's Joint Task Force ZAMPELAN (Zamboanga Peninsula, Lanao) congratulated the troops of the PNP and AFP on a successful combined law enforcement operation and said,
"We will continue our security operations in our area of responsibility in order to ensure the safety and well-being of the people," Murillo said.
Murillo also urged the families, relatives and neighbors of remaining NPA terrorists to lay down their arms and live peacefully with their families.