THREE communist New People’s Army (NPA) rebels were killed in a firefight with government troops in Kapai, Lanao del Sur last Saturday night, the military reported yesterday.
The slain rebels were Rochie Singaman, Wendy Luis, and Hernan Gailang, who are said to be members of the Dispatch Team of the NPA’s Sub-Regional Committee 5, North Central Mindanao Regional Committee.
Troops from the military’s Joint Task Force (JTF) ZamPeLan (Zamboanga Peninsula-Lanao) were conducting a combat operation at 11:45 p.m. last Saturday when they encountered six rebels in Sitio Bagong Silang, Barangay Malna in Kapai.
The 15-minute firefight led to the deaths of three of the rebels and the seizure of four high-powered firearms — two M16 rifles, one M653 rifle, and one M14 rifle.
No one was reported killed or injured on the military side.
The AFP Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) said troops are still conducting pursuit operations against the remnants of the rebel group.
Westmincom commander Lt. Gen. William Gonzales commended the JTF ZamPeLan for the successful military operation.
“First and foremost, we would like to underline the significant role of JTF Zampelan in the neutralization of the said threat group,” said Gonzales.
“We anticipate fruitful operations in the months to come noting the continuous efforts and developments made to elim-inate the threats in our Area of Responsibility,” Gonzales added.
In Eastern Samar, two NPA rebels surrendered and later led troops in recovering six high-powered firearms Thursday last week, the Army’s 8th Infantry Division reported.
The two rebels, Lilio Betasolo Jacobe and Enorio Afable Aquilla, were the vice squad leader and member, respectively, of the NPA’s Squad 2, Apoy Platoon, Sub-Regional Sesame under the Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee.
Troops tracked the whereabouts of Jacobe and Aquilla based on information provided by another rebel who earlier sur-rendered. The two were later “persuaded” to surrender in Barangay Abejao in Salcedo town.
Jacobe and Aquilla, during debriefing, revealed the location of firearms in Barangays Osmeña and Laurel in General Mac-Arthur also in Eastern Samar.
Subsequent operations in these barangays led to the recovery of two M16 rifles, two M14 rifles, one M1903 caliber .30 Springfield rifle, one AK-47 rifle, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, several magazines, personal belongings, and rebel documents which the military said are of “high intelligence value.”
