NPA leader slain, 3 others nabbed in clashes

A suspected leader of the New People’s Army (NPA) was killed while three others, including a rebel finance officer, were captured in three separate clashes with government troops in central and southern Philippines, a military spokesman said Wednesday. At 3 p.m. Tuesday in Albay province, Elmer Arevalo alias Ryan, said to be commander of the Albay Provincial Yunit Gerilya was killed in a clash with elements of the 65th Infantry Battalion at Sitio Bayang, Tastas village in Ligao City, said Army spokesman Maj. Ernesto Torres. Torres said the patrolling troops chanced upon a 15-man rebel group headed by Arevalo in the area, triggering a 30-minute firefight. Troops recovered an M16 rifle, an M653 rifle, two bandoleers and two backpacks containing personal belongings and enemy documents. There were no reported government casualties, Torres said. The recovered items were brought to the headquarters of 65IB for safekeeping while body of the slain rebel leader was brought to Ligao City police for proper disposition. Also on Tuesday in Masbate, a squad of the 2nd Infantry Battalion captured two suspected insurgents at Sitio Syndicate, Siwayan village in Aroroy town. Those nabbed were identified as Flores Sese and Dimas Manlapaz, both residents of Nabongsuran village of the said town. Earlier in Lanao del Norte, combined elements of the 5th and 32nd Infantry Battalions apprehended a certain Bergelia Baran at Purok 3, San Isidro village in Kapatagan town at 6:50 a.m. Monday. Torres described Baran as the finance officer of Sentro De Grabidad 1, Regional Operational Command of the Western Mindanao Regional Party Committee. The suspect is also the wife of Julito Ansad, himself an NPA member. Since June last year, security forces have been waging a high-profile campaign against communist guerillas in compliance with the directive of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to crush the insurgency problem by the end of her term in 2010. - GMANews.TV