Alleged NPA leaders, bomb expert among dead in Iloilo clashes

By Jennifer P. Rendon

Five suspected leaders of the New People’s Army (NPA), the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), were killed in a series of clashes with state forces in Calinog, Iloilo, the Philippine Army reported.

On Sunday, August 11, the Army’s 3rd Infantry (Spearhead) Division identified the five individuals killed during the sporadic clashes on August 8 in Barangay Aglonok, Calinog, Iloilo. With the assistance of former rebels and the victims’ families and acquaintances, the deceased were identified as:

-Aurelio Berjes Bosque, 54, of Barangay Carvasana, Calinog;

-Jovelyn Silverio, in her early 40s, of Barangay Patria, Pandan, Antique;

-Armando Rogelio Sabares, in his early 60s, of Barangay Igcaratong, San Joaquin, Iloilo;

-Romulo Ituriaga Gangoso, in his early 60s, of Barangay Bungsuan, Dumarao, Capiz; and

-Jielmor Gauranoc, 37, of Barangay Aras-asan, Sebaste, Antique.

Army records indicated that Bosque, also known by aliases Burnok, Bayjan, Sarco, and Boy, was an alleged member of the NPA’s Regional Headquarters (RHQ) Executive Command (EXECOM) of Komiteng Rehiyon-Panay. He was a former spokesperson for BAYAN-Panay in the early 2000s.

Silverio was a member of the NPA Regional Sentro De-Gravidad (RSDG)’s Madia-as Platoon and served as the platoon supply officer at the time of her death.

She was also the former platoon political officer of the RSDG Madia-as Platoon of the dismantled Southern Panay Front and a political officer of Sibat Platoon, Southern Front (Dismantled), KR-Panay.

Silverio was the partner of Erber Buencuchillo, alias Jess, Yamal, Poks, the current commanding officer of the RSDG Madia-as Platoon.

Former rebels revealed that Silverio was among the heavily armed NPAs who raided the Maasin Police Station in Iloilo province, seizing several firearms in June 2017.

Sabares, who went by the aliases Kamlon, Nene, Kulot, and Nono, was a member of Squad 2, RHQF, KR-Panay, and a former member of the KR-Panay executive committee.

He was regarded as an ordnance expert specializing in the creation and deployment of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs).

He was reportedly involved in several IED bombing incidents in Panay and Negros Islands that resulted in the deaths of multiple soldiers and police personnel, including the 2005 IED bombing in Barangay Caratagan, Calinog, which killed nine soldiers.

Sabares also faced multiple murder and frustrated murder charges filed at the 2nd MCTC, Sibalom, San Remigio, and Belison in Antique province.

Gangoso, also known by the aliases Reagan, Pedik, and Randay, was the former commanding officer of the dismantled Eastern Front, KR-Panay, and was later appointed as the commanding officer of KR-Panay.

Due to illness and old age, he was designated as an RHQF member in 2023. Gangoso faced charges of alarm and scandal and attempted homicide at the MTC in Maayon, Capiz.

Gauranoc, who used the aliases Doc, Tango, and Baron, was a member of the RSDG, KR-P. He was a former member of Squad 1, Southern Panay Front (D), KR-Panay; Gaisano Squad, SPF, KR-Panay; Mazda Squad, Suzuki (SYP) Platoon, SPF, KR-P; and Team 2, Squad 1, Suyak (SDG) Platoon, SPF, KR-Panay.

During the August 8 clashes, the 12IB troops seized two M16 rifles, an M203 grenade launcher, an anti-personnel mine (APM), assorted ammunition, several communication and ICT equipment, and subversive documents of high intelligence value, along with personal belongings.

Due to the remote location of the encounter site, the 12IB utilized an S-70i Black Hawk helicopter to transport the bodies of the slain NPAs to the Calinog town proper.

As of this writing, the 12IB is coordinating with local government units and police authorities to locate the families of the deceased NPAs.

The unit is also facilitating the extension of financial and burial assistance to the families of the deceased rebels through local government units and agencies, including the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

The PNP Regional Forensic Unit has conducted post-mortem fingerprinting, paraffin casting, photography, and DNA sampling on the five bodies at the Halago-Catolin Funeral Homes in Barangay Libot, Calinog.