3 NPA leaders killed in Panay clashes

ILOILO CITY, Philippines — Three top officials of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) were killed in a series of clashes on Panay island last week.

Brig. Gen. Michael Samson, Philippine Army 301st Infantry Brigade commander, confirmed the recovery of the bodies of Ma. Concepcion Araneta-Bocala, alias Concha, Vivian Torato and Vicente Hinojales in Barangay Cabatangan in Lambunao, Iloilo province.

Tagged as the most wanted communist group member, Bocala carried a P5.3-million bounty on her head for rebellion and murder.

She is the first deputy secretary-general of the CPP-NPA-NDF’s Komiteng Rehiyon-Panay (KRP) and was a representative of the communists in the peace talks with the government in Norway in 2016.

Hinojales was the secretary-general of KRP while Torato was the group’s second deputy secretary.

Prior to the recovery of their bodies, seven other NPA members – believed to be ranking officials of the NPA regional headquarters’ executive committee – were confirmed killed in the clashes that began on Aug. 5.

The Army’s 3rd Infantry Division leadership commended the 82nd Infantry Battalion for its relentless anti-insurgency operations that led to the neutralization of the communist leaders in Panay.

“We are resolute in our commitment to dismantling the KRP and the Central Front, which are the remaining forces of the communist terrorist group in Panay,” Maj. Gen. Marion Sison, 3rd ID commander, said.

Sison added that the troops are conducting sustained combat operations to neutralize the remaining NPA members and create a secure environment for Panay residents.

“These efforts are crucial in our pursuit of achieving a SIPS (stable internal peace and security) status by September,” Sison said.

With the neutralization of the NPA leaders, the Army believes that the decades-long communist insurgency in Panay has come to an end. — Michael Punongbayan