Suspected NPA Rebel Killed in Capiz Clash

By Jennifer P. Rendon

A suspected New People’s Army (NPA) rebel was killed in an encounter with government troops in Tapaz, Capiz, on the afternoon of Dec. 28.

As of 4 p.m. on Dec. 29, authorities have yet to identify the male fatality.

The slain rebel was part of a group of 10 NPA combatants who engaged members of the 12th Infantry Battalion (12IB) in a gunfight at Sitio Naatip, Barangay Lahug, Tapaz, at approximately 12:47 p.m. on Saturday.

Lieutenant Colonel Vicel Jan Garsuta, commander of the 12IB, said the deceased is likely not a resident of Tapaz or nearby towns.

Even former rebels could not identify the individual, who was known only by the aliases “Joey” and “Kevin.”

Garsuta noted that the man spoke Kinaray-a, suggesting he might be from southern Iloilo.

The group involved in the clash is believed to be remnants of the NPA’s Komiteng Rehiyon-Panay’s Regional Sentro De Grabidad (RSDG) and the dismantled Central Front.

The encounter occurred while soldiers from the 12IB were conducting combat operations in the area.

A 30-minute firefight ensued before the rebels scattered in different directions.

Recovered from the site were an M16 rifle, 10 magazines with numerous bullets, and five backpacks containing personal belongings.

Garsuta said additional forces and K9 units have been deployed to continue combat operations in the area.