HERMOSA, Bataan – A suspected leader of the communist break-away group Rebolusyunariong Hukbong Bayan (RHB) in Bataan was killed while a woman was wounded in the crossfire during a 10-minute firefight with government troops in barangay Cataning, Hermosa, Bataan at 8:30 p.m. Saturday. A suspected member of the rebel group was also arrested.
Sr. Supt. Manuel Gaerlan, Bataan police director, identified the fatality as Alvin Yandan alias Ka Bingbing, RHB head of Area Party Collective in Dinalupihan-Hermosa Area in Bataan.
Caught in the crossfire and wounded was Zenaida Cortez, 45, of Cataning, who was brought to the Bataan General Hospital. Arrested was Lucito Canete whom reports tagged as a suspected member of the Marxista Lenninista Party of the Philippines-RHB.
Gaerlan said joint personnel from the 303rd police mobile group under Supt. Nelson Sulit and the 3rd Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army conducted patrol operations in Cataning after receiving reports that more or less eight members of the MLLP-RHB were conducting a meeting at the house of an Alyansang Magbubukid ng Bataan member.
"As the police/military patrol was approaching the house, they were fired upon and had no option but to return fire that lasted for 10 minutes that resulted in the death of Yandan and the capture of Canete," the police director said.
Reportedly recovered from the scene of the encounter were a pistolized carbine caliber.30 M1 with four magazines, a caliber .45 with three fully-loaded magazines, 25 live ammunitions for cal.45, 45 live ammunitions for cal.30 carbine and two spent shells for cal.45 and five for cal.30 carbine.
Reports said that the slain suspect had standing warrants of arrest for kidnapping and serious illegal detention with no bail recommended and some other cases.
"The effort was the result of intensified operations against any threat groups that may take advantage of the upcoming State of the Nation Address of Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on Monday," Gaerlan said.
