LEGAZPI CITY , Philippines – A ranking leader of the New People’s Army (NPA) in the Bicol region was among the eight rebels killed in a clash with government troops in Juban, Sorsogon last Thursday morning, the military said.
Col. Joselito Kakilala, commanding officer of the Army’s 903rd Infantry Brigade based in Castilla, Sorsogon, identified the slain NPA leader as Arnel Estiller, alias Ariston, commanding officer and secretary of Larangan 2 of Komite Probensya of the Bicol Regional Party Committee of the Communist Party of the Philippines-NPA operating in Sorsogon.
The other slain insurgents were identified only as Dado/Miloy, a political instructor of the NPA’s provincial guerrilla unit; Rey, Alicia, Jacklyn; Manay of the Bicol regional guerrilla unit and a video editor; and Abby, editor of Dagundong ng Bikol.
Kakilala said among those killed were members of the NPA’s regional guerrilla unit augmenting the NPA groups in Sorsogon.
Army intelligence sources put the number of NPA rebels in Sorsogon at 40 to 45 operating in two fronts – the Larangan 1 and 2.
“They have extorted P7 million to P8 million from candidates during the recent May elections,†Kakilala said in a text message.
Kakilala said a platoon of soldiers was sent to Barangay Upper Calmayon, a one-hour motorcycle ride from the Juban town proper, after farmers there complained about the extortion activities of the insurgents.
Recovered after the 35-minute gunfight were five M-16 rifles, two M203 grenade launchers, and an improvised explosive.
Kakilala said combat operations were still continuing against the other rebels who fled toward a mountainous area.
The bodies of the slain rebels were brought to a funeral parlor in Sorsogon City for autopsy and for relatives to claim them.– With Jaime Laude