FORT MAGSAYSAY, Nueva Ecija --- Three New People's Army (NPA) bandits were killed during a 10-minute exchange of gunfire with joint operating troops of the 84th Infantry Battalion, 91st Infantry Battalion, and members of the Nueva Ecija Philippine National Police (PNP) in Brgy. San Alejandro, Quezon Nueva Ecija on Tuesday.

Law enforcers were about to serve the Warrant of Arrest against  a certain Nicomendez Ortiz alias Bunso/Peter/Dagohoy when the encounter happened.

Lt. Col. Honorato S. Pascual Jr., commanding officer of the 84th Infantry Battalion said Ortiz was the leader of the NPA’s Special Partisan Unit (SPARU) and the Finance Officer of the Komiteng Larangan Gerilya (KLG) Sierra Madre and was facing rebellion and murder charges.

The joint operation led to the neutralization of Ortiz and his two cohorts identified as Bernardino Liberato, a resident of Brgy. Sto Tomas Feria, Quezon, and Merlita Ogalinola, a resident of Brgy. San Vicente Cabiao, Nueva Ecija, who were both members of KLG-Sierra Madre.

Recovered from the rebels were one Star Cal. 9mm pistol with magazine containing seven ammunition; one Colt Cal .45 pistol chamber loaded with magazine containing two ammunitions; one US carbine Cal 30 with magazine containing 12 ammunition; four pieces fired cartridge case of Cal .45; 16 pieces fired cartridge of 5.56mm; one deformed fired bullet; one hand grenade; one black leather wallet containing one foreign bill; two P5 bills; four touch mobile Sim Cards; one black Cherry Mobile cellphone and one black/blue Bajaj Motorcycle with sidecar.

Recovered at the crime scene were one hand grenade; one magazine of Cal .45 containing 7 ammunition; eight pieces Cal .45 ammunition; one black Nokia Cellphone; one black transcend USB; 23 pieces of propaganda materials, and motorcycle documents of Kawasaki Bajaj CT100 in the house where the NPAs were staying.

Maj. Gen. Alfredo V. Rosario Jr., commander of the Army’s 7th Infantry Division lauded the troops for the successful joint law enforcement operations.