CAPIZ — Two suspected members of the New People’s Army (NPA) were killed in an encounter with government troops in Barangay Katipunan, Tapaz, Capiz over the weekend.
The clash occurred at about 7:45 a.m. on September 20 and involved soldiers from the Army’s 82nd, 61st and 12th Infantry Battalions, operating under the 301st Infantry “Bayanihan” Brigade, after residents reported the presence of about seven armed men in the area. The firefight lasted roughly 10 minutes, the military said.
The identities of the two killed remain unknown as of this writing.
Military personnel recovered high-powered firearms and explosives at the scene, including two M16 assault rifles, an M653 rifle, a rifle grenade, ammunition, magazines and other war materiel and personal belongings.
Major General Michael Samson, commander of the Army’s 3rd Infantry Division (3ID), said troops were verifying community reports of armed men when the encounter erupted.
“The encounter lasted for several minutes, then the rebels fled, leaving their two comrades,” Samson was quoted as saying.
As of this writing, the Army said an investigation and proper handling of the bodies and seized items were ongoing. There was no immediate comment from the communist movement on the reported losses.
The Sept. 20 clash is the sixth reported encounter in the Tapaz area since late August. On Sept. 13, an earlier skirmish in Barangay Lahug resulted in the death of a female rebel identified by the military as Christine May Capaducio, also known by the aliases “Sheryl” and “Puday.” An M16 rifle was recovered from her.
Earlier incidents in late August included clashes in barangays Artuz, Agpipili and Tabon that left Sgt. Jhon Ray Coopera of the 12th Infantry Battalion dead on Aug. 25; rebel casualties in those earlier engagements were not fully confirmed at the time.
In recent statements, Samson urged remaining rebel elements in Tapaz to surrender, saying intensified troop deployments aim to neutralize armed threats and protect communities.
“We encourage them to surrender to avoid becoming casualties. We do not want to kill, but if our men are in danger, we have no choice but to fight,” he said, adding that timely information from concerned citizens was instrumental in the operation./PN
