The slain rebels.
QUEZON, Nueva Ecija – Three persons believed to be members of the New People’s Army were killed in an encounter with combined police and military forces in Barangay San Alejandro here at around 5:40 p.m. Tuesday.
One of the fatalities was identified as Nicomedes Ortiz, alias Ka Dagohoy, who was the subject of arrest warrants which the government security agents were set to implement prior to a 10-minute exchange of fire, police said.
Investigators said operatives from the Army’s 84th and 91st Infantry Battalions and the police’s 2nd provincial mobile field company launched Coplan “Maharlika 5” aimed to serve the warrants to Ortiz,.
The warrants that were issued by the Regional Trial Court Branch 30 of Nueva Vizcaya and Branch 3 of Baler, Aurora covered the allegations of rebellion and murder, respectively, according to the police.
A report transmitted by the municipal police to the provincial police office alleged government teams were greeted by a volley of fire upon arrival in the area.
“However, when the troops are in the said area of operation they were suddenly fired upon by three armed personalities believed to be CNTs,” the report said.
Lt. Col. Honorato Pascual, Jr., 84IB commander, said Ortiz led the NPA’s Special Partisan Unit and was the finance officer of the Komiteng Larangang Gerilya Sierra Madre.
The two other fatalities were identified as Bernardino Liberato, resident of Barangay Sto. Tomas Ceria here, and Erlita Ogalinola of Barangay San Vicente, Cabiao.
Recovered from the suspects were one .9mm pistol, one .45 pistol, one .30 US carbine, two hand grenades, several rounds of ammunition, and alleged propaganda materials
Major Gen. Alfredo Rosario, Jr., commander of the 7th Infantry Division, commended the troops “for the successful joint law enforcement operations.”
“Once again, we are calling you to surrender or suffer the same fate, ” Rosario Jr. warned rebel forces.
