ILOILO City – A total of 44 New People’s Army (NPA) rebels were neutralized across Panay Island in 2024.
Data from the Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division (3ID) showed that of the number, 17 were killed in encounters, 24 surrendered, and three were apprehended.
Brigadier General Michael Samson, 3ID commander, said that several rebel leaders had engaged government troops in clashes last year that crippled the entire rebel group in Panay.
Among the rebel leaders who were killed were Ma. Concepcion “Concha” Araneta Bocala, Aurelio “Burnok” Berjes Bosque, Jovelyn “Darlyn” Silverio, Rumulo “Reagan” Ituriaga Gangoso, Jielmor “Doc” Gauranoc, and Armando “Kamlon” Sabares.
Bosque, a former spokesperson for BAYAN Panay, was a key member of the Regional Headquarters Executive Command of the Komiteng Rehiyon (KR)-Panay, while Silverio, the platoon supply officer of KR-Panay, was involved in a police station attack in Maasin, Iloilo in 2017.
Samson added that Sabares, an improvised explosive device expert, was linked to multiple bombings in Panay and Negros islands, including the deadly attack in Calinog, Iloilo in 2005. He faced multiple criminal charges.
Gangoso was a former commanding officer of the Eastern Front of KR-Panay and assigned to the Regional Headquarters Command, and Gauranoc was part of KR-Panay’s Regional Sentro de Grabidad.
Samson reiterated the 3ID’s call to the remaining insurgents to surrender and avail themselves of the government programs.
“We want peace and we don’t want to kill. So I call on the remnants to come down and surrender,” he added./PN
