BONGABON, Nueva Ecija – Two suspected members of the New People’s Army (NPA) were killed, four were wounded and one was arrested in a clash with composite team from the Nueva Ecija police provincial office (NEPPO) and the Army’s 7th Infantry Division in Barangay Estella, Rizal, Nueva Ecija at around 2;30 p.m. Thursday last week.
On Friday, two M16 rifles, three .45 pistols and several rounds of ammunitions confiscated from the rebels were presented to media jointly by 7ID commander Major Gen. Lenard Agustin and Brig. Gen Rhodel Sermonia, Central Luzon police director.
Two of the suspects were women, including a graduate of the University of the Philippines from San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan and a regular member of the NPA under Kilusang Larangang Gerilya Sierra Madre, according to Agustin.
The four wounded suspects were brought initially to Fort Magsaysay Hospital but had to be transferred to Cabanatuan City for further medical treatment, Agustin said.
The fatalities, on the other hand, were identified as Michael Ledesma and one alias Michael, both regular NPA regulars. Their bodies were brought to a funeral parlor in Rizal town, the army reported.
Agustin said the rebels opened a volley of fire on government forces who responded to information fed by residents, “so, it was necessary na sumagot ng putok syempre ang ating tropa.”
Sermonia, on the other hand, lauded the police-military interoperability as well as the support of the populace in the government’s campaign against insurgency.
He expressed hope to have Central Luzon as the first region to totally eradicate insurgency in line with President Duterte’s goal to finish the problem before he steps down from Malacañang.
