AFP: Top NPA commander recruiting indigenous people killed in Laguna encounter

A top commander of the New People's Army (NPA) allegedly terrorizing indigenous people in Laguna was killed after an armed encounter with the combined forces of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) in the province's Kalayaan town on Friday.

Lieutenant Colonel Jesus Diocton, Commanding Officer of the 1st Infantry Battalion, identified the suspect as Mario Caraig, alias Jethro, the secretary of the Southern Tagalog Regional Party Committee’s Sub-Regional Military Area 4C, according to a report by the Army.

Reports from the field indicated that the incident happened at around 11:10 p.m., when government troops encountered NPA members at Sitio Boho at Brgy. San Antonio.

They recovered a .45 pistol, a 9mm pistol, two hand grenades, and supposed enemy documents.

Diocton indicated that it was the second encounter in the area in three days following the August 4 encounter when government security forces’ neutralized three NPAs, including the commander of the Main Regional Guerilla Unit of the NPA Southern Tagalog, whom former rebels positively identified as alias Termo.

Diocton credited the concerned citizens who tipped the government regarding the presence of the armed group "who were coercing the people to feed and hide them as they try to avoid the government’s security forces who were closing in on them."

Brigadier General Alex Rillera, Commander of 202nd Infantry Brigade, said government troops were able to close-in on the enemy "without being noticed."

No casualty was recorded on the part of the government, Rillera said.

The military said alias Jethro is feared by the Indigenous People, who is known for coercing the Dumagat Remontados into joining and supporting the NPA.

Joint AFP-PNP checkpoints were, meanwhile, established in the area to support the ongoing pursuit operations against the escaping NPA rebels, while all available military assets have been placed on high alert.

The military said alias Jethro used to operate in Batangas and Cavite but was forced into hiding in the Sierra Madres after their Guerilla Front Honda was dismantled by the 202nd Brigade during the 2018 military campaign. -MDM, GMA News