CLARK FREEPORT – A former student of the University of the Philippines-Clark here was one of the members of the New People’s army (NPA) in a firefight with government troopers in Barangay Estrella in Rizal, Nueva Ecija last Nov. 14.
The student was identified by the military as Redsa Balatan, 33, alias Lea, Sinin or Julia, who was allegedly a political instructor of the NPA’s Kilusang Larangang Guerilla Sierra Madre operating in northern Nueva Ecija and parts of Aurora.
Lt. Col. Honorato Pascual Jr., commander of 84th Infantry Battalion, said Balatan was the wife of Gerald Salonga, alias Geary, who died in another encounter in September 2, 2018 in Barangay Villa, Maria, Aurora Province.
“The two were students of the University of the Philippines – Extension Program in Pampanga (UPDEPP). Geary before his death was first arrested in August 2014 with another NPA, Guiller Cadano. At that time, they claimed that they were activists from Kabataan Partylist and Anak- Bayan. Cadano also died in an encounter in Carranglan, Nueva Ecija on Sept. 20, 2017,” the military reported.
The firefight that wounded Balatan resulted from military operations in reaction to reports of armed persons in Barangay Estrella last Nov. 14. The military said the clash led to the killing of two NPA members, wounding of three including Balatan, and the capture of one, as well as the recovery of two M16 rifles, three .45 pistols and other war materiel.
“This is solid evidence of the connection between legal fronts and the NPA. They organize from the schools through groups like Kabataan, Anakbayan, LFS and the others in order to facilitate recruitment to the NPA,” Pascual said.
Balatan and the two other wounded NPA members were brought to Dr. Paulino J. Garcia Memorial Research and Medical Center in Cabanatuan City.
