2 alleged top NPA chiefs nabbed

CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga — Two suspected top leaders of the New People’s Army(NPA) were captured by the military while two of their comrades were killed in a 15-minute gunbattle starting at about 6 a.m. yesterday in Barangay Lischoco in San Quintin town in Pangasinan.

Col. Jovenal Narcise, commander of the 702nd Infantry Brigade (IB), said six other rebels were captured as a result of the gunbattle between the armed NPA group and troopers of the 48th and 702nd IB, the 107th Pangasinan police mobile group, and the Pangasinan police command. A wounded rebel was reported to have escaped.

Narcise identified the captured rebel leaders as Benjamin Ganegan alias Ka Tomas , believed to be the head of the Sandatahang Yunit Propaganda of the NPA in Pangasinan, and his right hand man and assistant guerilla commander Levy Valdez alias Ka Ador. The two slain rebels were not immediately identified. The other captured rebels were identified as Marcos Almonte alias Ka Mar, Marlon Sabado alias Ka Cesar,Diosdado Parinas alias Ka Joel, Romel Tucay alias Ka Romel, Dino Bernardo alias Ka Bert and Marvin Esteban alias Ka Bryan.

He said government troopers also seized from the rebels two baby armalites, four M16 rifles, and assorted ammunition and magazines.

Narcise said the clashes between government troopers and NPA rebels have continued in areas covered by the 7th Infantry Division of the Army under Maj. Gen. Alberto Braganza since the initial clash in Carranglan, Nueva Ecija last Nov. 20. At least seven rebels and one Army soldier have been killed in the clashes. But Narcise said that the rebels have been on the run, adding that the military has already taken over at least five camps of the NPA in various areas covered by the anti-insurgency operations in Nueva Ecija, Aurora and Pangasinan.

He said that two days ago, two more training camps of the NPA were found abandoned by the rebels in Villa Floresta in San Jose City and another at Parista in Lupao in Nueva Ecija. He said that the troopers of the 71st IB, under Lt. Elray Peralta found the abandoned camp in Villa Floresta , covering some 2,000 square meters with 15 nipa huts that could accommodate about 90 persons. The troopers also found a generator fanbelt, spoiled food, empty softdrink cans, used Smart and Globe cellphone cards, empty medicine wrappers, personal belongings in the area.

The troopers also noted that trees in the camp were carved with the aliases of known rebels, including Ka Resty, Ka Jing, and Ka Justine Madrile.

Narcise also said that the other camp found in Lupai was bigger, occupying about 5,000 square meters with huts and tents that could accommodate some 100 persons. The troopers also noted foxholes and firing ranges in the camp which was littered with plastic sacks and kitchen utensils.

Last week, the military also found an abandoned NPA camp in Barangay Labi in Cuyapo and another in Barangay Lomboy Bukid in Carranglan in Nueva Ecija.