BY RUBY P. SILUBRICO & MA. THERESA LADIAO
ILOILO City – Two alleged former members of the New People’s Army (NPA) were killed in Barangay Coto, Lambunao, Iloilo on October 5 during the service of arrest warrants, an operation the Philippine Army and Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) insisted was lawful and conducted in self-defense.
The slain suspects were identified as Roberto Cabales, also known by his aliases “William”, “Ted”, and “Lloyd”, a former high-ranking official of the NPA’s Komiteng Rehiyon–Panay and a resident of Iloilo City, and Mateo Suarez, alias “Badong”, from Barangay Coto. Cabales was facing multiple warrants of arrest for rebellion and attempted murder issued by Judge Daniel Antonio Gerardo Amular of the Regional Trial Court Branch 21 in Mambusao, Capiz, and reportedly had a P3.1-million bounty on his head.
According to Major General Michael Samson of the 3rd Infantry Division (3ID), the deaths of the two rebels represent a significant blow to the insurgency in the region.
“Malapit na matapos ang ating problema sa insurgency, so it is better for the remaining rebels to stop running,” Samson said, adding that the NPA’s influence in the area is “on the verge of collapse and nearing its end.”
Authorities said the suspects opened fire on government forces during the service of the warrants at around 5 p.m., prompting a brief gunfight. Both were transported to Dr. Ricardo Ladrido Memorial Hospital in Lambunao, where they were pronounced dead on arrival by the attending physician. Firearms and ammunition were recovered from the scene.
The operation was conducted by a joint team composed of the Iloilo Police Provincial Office–Provincial Intelligence Unit, operatives from the Lambunao and Passi City police stations, and soldiers from the 82nd and 61st Infantry Battalions.
Brigadier General Josefino Ligan, regional director of PRO-6, defended the operation, stressing its legality and adherence to protocol.
“This was a legitimate police operation. Our men were there to serve warrants of arrest issued by the court, and they followed all operational protocols, including the use of body-worn cameras,” Ligan said.
He added that the operation turned violent only after the suspects allegedly fired upon authorities, forcing the operatives to respond in self-defense.
Ligan emphasized, “We assure the public that this was not a case of summary execution. There is a clear record of the operation, and our personnel strictly adhered to procedure. Our main objective remains the same — to uphold the rule of law, serve justice, and maintain peace and order in Western Visayas.”
The police and military continued to coordinate in tracking down remaining individuals with pending warrants, particularly those with a history of armed insurgency./PN
