By Joseph Jubelag
ISULAN, Sultan Kudarat - Two suspected New People’s Army (NPA) rebels were killed in an entrapment operation after they tried to extort money from a banana grower in Senator Aquino town in Sultan Kudarat over the weekend.
Police Regional Office 12 Director Brig. Gen. Michael John Dubria said the suspects had earlier demanded P150,000 from a banana plantation owner in Barangay Langgal, Senator Ninoy Aquino as revolutionary tax for the Communist underground group.
Authorities only identified one of them as Aminie Romo, 26.
After receiving an extortion letter supposedly coming from Commander ‘Goryo’ of the NPA-Guerilla Front 73 operating in Sultan Kudarat and South Cotabato provinces, Dubria said the victim immediately reported this to police authorities.
Police and military intelligence operatives set an entrapment operation to arrest the suspects who arrived at the meeting place onboard a motorcycle.
During the conversation with the victim, the suspects tried to escape after sensing that they were being setup.
Police said the back rider drew a handgun while they were being pursued by the security forces.
Dubria said the suspects were killed in an ensuing shootout with security forces
Police recovered a .38 caliber revolver and a fragmentation grenade from the suspects.