3 NPA commanders killed in Sultan Kudarat encounter

DAVAO CITY — Three ranking New People’s Army commanders were killed in an encounter over the weekend with government forces in the town of Colombio, Sultan Kudarat.

According to Army Col. Benito de Leon, spokesman of the 10th Infantry Division based here in Davao City, the remains of Catalino Tacadao, also known as Kumander Asyo, a leader of the NPA’s Far South Mindanao Region, were positively identified by a former rebel in the area.

Tacadao’s remains were reportedly brought and displayed at the Sultan Kudarat police station for identification.

De Leon said Tacadao was killed during an encounter in the town of Colombio Saturday afternoon with elements of the 27th Infantry Battalion under the 1002nd Infantry Brigade.

De Leon said that witnesses also claimed that two other local NPA leaders in the area, a certain Manuel Fernandez and an alias Brigul, were also killed in the same encounter although their remains still could not be found. The units under the newly-established 10th ID have intensified their operations against the communist insurgents in Southern Mindanao, considered to be the NPA rebels’ strongholds in this part of the country.

Moreover, at least 44 NPA rebels have surrendered to the different operating units of the 10th ID since it started last Aug. 16.

The 10th ID commander, Maj. Gen. Ernesto Boac said the surrenderees came from various provinces considered to be strongholds of the communist insurgents in this part of the country, such as Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Compostela Valley and Sarangani.

"The return of these former NPA rebels to the folds of the law showed our sincere dedication to help bring them back to the mainstream of the society and for them to lead a better life than be in the mountains fighting government forces," Boac said.

The rebel returnees have also turned over to the 10th ID 24 heavy firearms as well as land mines and several units of improvised explosive device.

Philippine Army chief Lt. Gen. Romeo Tolentino cited the surrender of the NPA rebels as an indication that finally they have realized that they have been fighting a worthless cause that would lead them nowhere.