TACLOBAN CITY — Three alleged members of the communist New People’s Army (NPA) were killed in an encounter with government troops in a remote village in Jaro, Leyte on Monday morning, November 17.
The clash occurred at around 6:24 a.m. after residents of Barangay Pange alerted authorities on the presence of armed men in their community, Brig. Gen. Pompeyo Jason Almagro, commander of the 802nd Infantry Brigade (IB) based in Ormoc City, said in a phone interview.
Responding to the report, soldiers from the 93rd Infantry Battalion under the 802nd IB were deployed to the area, resulting in a firefight that left three rebels dead and the recovery of two firearms.
Almagro said six NPA members were in the vicinity, but three managed to flee during the gun battle.
“As of the moment, clearing and pursuit operations are still ongoing,” the Army official said.
The slain rebels were reportedly members of the Island Committee of Levox under the Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee (EVRPC).
Their bodies have been brought to a funeral home for identification and claiming by relatives. One was identified as a native of Alangalang, while the other two were from Jaro and Hindang towns, all in Leyte.
Almagro, who assumed command of the 802nd IB on November 8, said the insurgency situation in Leyte has significantly weakened through the years.
“They just roam around, as they are no longer capable of staging major tactical offensives against government troops,” he said, noting that the presence of NPA remnants in the province has been reduced to small, scattered groups.
Jaro, located about 37 kilometers from the regional center of Tacloban City, was once considered an NPA stronghold at the height of the insurgency in Leyte.
(JOEY A. GABIETA)
