An alleged squad leader of the New People’s Army (NPA) and two other Communist officers were killed in an armed encounter with the Philippine Army (PA) in Jaro, Leyte on Monday morning, Nov. 17, the military reported.

Elements of the 93rd Infantry Battalion (93IB) led by its commander, Lt. Col. Celeste Frank Sayson, were conducting security operations in the hinterlands of Barangay Pangue when they encountered remnants of the Second Squad, First Platoon, Island Committee Levox of the Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee (EVRPC) around 6:30 a.m.

“The encounter transpired after a civilian tipped off the 93IB Intelligence Unit of the presence of the Communist-terrorists in the area,” Sayson said.

The tip was received a day before and the troops had just scoured the area while on their way down from the mountain after a whole day pursuit operation when the sporadic firefight ensued.

The gunbattle lasted for 30 minutes, Sayson said.

When the clash ended, Sayson said that the operating troops discovered the bodies of the NPA unit’s squad leader identified as Fidel Lagado alias “Rod/Jason,” the unit’s medical officer, Maricel Anora alias “Yenyen/Gani,” and their political guide, Jun Bereno alias “Sonny/Danny.”

The soldiers also found a carbine rifle, three caliber .45 pistols, three grenade rifles, three cellphones, documents, and personal belongings believed to be from the slain rebels.

Sayson said the 93IB has been “very active” in connecting with the families of the slain rebels for them to surrender prior to the encounter.

He noted that the 93IB has been directly communicating with the rebels’ families for their surrender. He said they also reached out to them through leaflets, posters, loudspeaker operations, and emissaries but to no avail.

Sayson said the 93IB was assisting in the funeral requirements of the slain rebels while their families had already been informed of the incident.