Alleged NPA leader, member killed in Bukidnon clash —military

A suspected commander and a member of the rebel group New People’s Army were killed in a 30-minute encounter in Impasug-ong, Bukidnon on Friday, the military said Tuesday.

In a statement, the 4th Infantry (Diamond) Division identified the two fatalities as Pedro Codaste alias Gonyong or Serv, and an alias Zandro.

The military said Codaste was the top 2 commander of the rebel group in Mindanao as he served as the deputy secretary of Komisyon Mindanao (KOMMID).

Troops from the 16th Infantry Battalion (16IB) went to Barangay Kalabugao to respond to the complaint of concerned citizens against the rebels that resulted in a 30-minute firefight with 15 suspected NPA members.

Seized from the rebels were an AK47 rifle and a caliber 45 pistol, the military said.

Brigadier General Oliver Vesliño, acting commander of 4th Infantry Division, said Codaste was a member of the Communist Party of the Philippines’ Central Committee and consultant of the National Democratic Front (NDF).

According to him, Codaste is also a former secretary of Guerilla Front 4A  in Agusan del Sur during the early '90s then later became secretary of the North Central Mindanao Regional Committee in 2009.

In 2016, Vesliño said the alleged NPA leader was elected to the Central Committee during the CPP 2nd Congress.

The military said Codaste was facing multiple cases with warrants and considered as one of the most wanted fugitives for murder, double frustrated murder, and attempted murder.

In a separate statement, Eastern Mindanao Command chief Lieutenant General Greg Almerol commended the troops for the operation.

“We are seeing a snowball of surrender in the coming days with the successful neutralization of another CTG head. This is possible as the operational balance of the CTG continues to crumble while the morale of their followers depletes after a series of engagements with our troops," he said.—Joviland Rita/AOL, GMA News