BACOLOD CITY – An alleged leader of the New People’s Army (NPA) was killed in a clash with the government forces at Sitio Lower Tiyos, Barangay Quintin Remo, Moises Padilla, Negros Occidental on Tuesday, April 18.
The Army, through the help of former NPA rebels, identified the fatality as Jose Albores Jr., alias “Jojo.”
Based on the revelations of former NPA rebels, Albores was an alleged member of Central Negros 1 (CN1) under Leonardo Panaligan Command (LPC)-NPA, who was reportedly known as one of the local NPA leaders that headed “Kangaroo Court,” according to the Army.
The said court refers to the NPA's justice system in the boundaries of Moises Padilla, La Castellana, and Isabela in Negros Occidental, and Canlaon City and Guihulngan City in Negros Oriental, the Army said.
1st Lt. Raymart Africa, acting civil military operations officer of the 303rd Infantry Brigade (IBde), said the clash happened when troops belonging to the Army 62nd Infantry Battalion (IB) launched operations against the NPA as a response to the information given by the civilians regarding their alleged presence in the area.
Military troops encountered at least five unidentified armed persons in a five-minute firefight.
Recovered by the Army from the encounter site were a KG9, a hand grenade, subversive documents, and some personal belongings.
The Army said that Albores’ group was responsible for the alleged killing of civilians, even their own members who were tagged as an asset of government authorities or those who do not want to support the armed group.
Four insurgency-related incidents were reported in Moises Padilla town this year, with the latest incident recorded on April 9 which involved the killing of a farmer in the same village.
In a statement, the LPC-NPA condemned the death of Albores, whom they claimed to be brutally murdered in his house.
Ka JB Regalado, LPC-NPA spokesperson, said that there’s no presence of NPA in the area.
The group alleged that Albores’ house was strafed by the Army while he was preparing some products he was supposed to sell that day.
In response, Africa said that the NPA’s claim was just their propaganda.
“It is not true. Our operations are legitimate,” he added.
The 62nd IB, in a statement, vowed to hunt all the remaining NPA rebels, who are targeting innocent and unarmed civilians in central Negros.