BUTUAN CITY – A female New People's Army (NPA) member was killed in a firefight with soldiers of the Army’s 75th Infantry Battalion (75th IB) in Purok Quarry, Sitio Kabalawan, Barangay Anahao Daan, Tago, Surigao del Sur on Wednesday, December 23, military report said.
(Photo courtesy 75th IB-CMO via Mike U. Crismundo / Manila Bulletin)
The clash occurred at around 5 p.m. between the 75th IB troops and 10 Communist NPA terrorists belonging to the SYP Platoon, Guerilla Front 19 (GF19) of the CPP-NPA North Eastern Mindanao Regional Committee (NEMRC) under a certain Kumander Ren-ren or Coby, according to 75th IB Civil Military Operations (CMO) officer Capt. Edwin Leo J. Francisco.
The gun battle resulted in the death of the female NPA terrorist, and recovery of an AK47 rifle, two bandoliers, nine magazines with 167 live ammunitions. Also seized were bomb-making materials, including 50 meters of blasting cord; cellular phones, subversive documents, back packs with personal belongings and assorted food supplies.
“We are thankful to the residents of Anahao Daan and the nearby barangay of Bangsud for the information they provided about the presence of the NPA unit of Kumander Renren/Coby. They have had enough of the extortion and the NPAs mere menacing presence,” said Lt. Col. Jeffrey A. Villarosa, commanding officer of 75th IB
“The residents' timely and corroborating reports helped us a lot in accurately locating the terrorists, thus, this armed encounter. We are saddened though for the wasteful demise of the still to be identified female NPA member. We are closely working with Anahao Daan officials and Tago LGU for the proper identification and disposition of the cadaver," the 75th IB commander added.
Villarosa noted that it was the residents’ “concrete manifestation of the residents' commitment to help rid their communities with the NPA menace”.
“They no longer want the Communist terrorists to deceive and take advantage of them again,” he said.
He also called out to the remaining members of the NPA to surrender and avail of the benefits that the government’s Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (ECLIP) have to offer.