MANILA, Philippines — Two alleged leaders of the New People’s Army (NPA) were killed in an encounter in Gingoog, Misamis Oriental early this week.
The military identified the fatalities as Zaldy Galamiton and Jhonjhon Ramos of the NPA’s North Central Mindanao regional committee.
Reports reaching Camp Aguinaldo yesterday said troopers of the Army’s 16th Infantry Battalion (IB) had responded to a report about the presence of a group of armed men in Barangay Bal-ason.
The men were reportedly trying to recruit residents to join the communist group, in a bid to regain their lost mass base.
Lt. Col. Warren Daroy, chief of the Army’s 16th IB, said a 10-minute firefight broke out between the troopers and the armed men.
The men retreated, leaving behind their dead comrades.
The remains of Galamiton and Ramos were recovered at the scene of the encounter, along with rifles, ammunition and personal belongings.
“The fatalities were high-value people whom we have been tracking for months. They were responsible for the atrocities and criminal activities in Misamis Oriental and parts of Agusan del Norte,” Daroy said.