NPA killed, rebel surrenders in Mindoro firefight

CALAPAN CITY , Philippines   – A New People’s Army member was killed while another rebel surrendered later after the former’s group engaged patrol troops from the Philippine Army in a running gun battle Wednesday afternoon in Sablayan town, Occidental Mindoro province.

In a report furnished here on Aug. 13 by 1st Lt. Celeste Frank Sayson, public affairs office chief of the Army’s 2nd Infantry Division, it stated that the still unknown rebel was killed after an intense firefight, which lasted for about 10 minutes, at around 3:15 p.m. Wednesday in Sitio Katiklop, Barangay Ligaya, in Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro.

The Army troopers from the 2nd ID’s 80th Infantry Battalion, under Lt. Col. Alden Juan Masagka, reportedly encountered a group of NPAs under the Mindoro Island Party Committee (Islacom), and said to be led by a certain Ka Mercy, in the said area.

Another NPA guerilla was forced to surrender after a group of pursuing government soldiers, led by 1st Lt. Nilo Ramones, which conducted blocking position at the vicinity of Sitio Pasugui, Barangay Malisbong, in Sablayan municipality encountered more or less five withdrawing rebels.

Sayson identified the surrendered rebel as Ronald Galso Salcedo, alias Ka Mark, 24, and a member of the NPA’s Islacom in Sablayan. According to the report, Salcedo hails from Sitio Mapaya, in San Jose, Occidental Mindoro.

He was immediately turned over to Superintendent Oscar Paginado, officer-in-charge of Sablayan Penal Farm Colony and is still on tactical interrogation by proper authorities. The said rebel surrendered his M16 rifle and one long magazine containing two ammunition.   – Juancho Mahusay