NPA commander killed in Zamboanga del Norte clash

PAGADIAN CITY – A commander of the communist New People’s Army (NPA) was killed while two soldiers were wounded during a combined military and police operation in Sindangan town, Zamboanga del Norte.

The slain NPA leader was identified by Major Ronald Suscano, 1st Infantry Division spokesperson as Edwin Lapinig alias “Baz.”

According to the military, Lapinig has a standing arrest warrant for multiple murder. He was the commander of the Platoon Basil of the Mobile Regional Guerilla Unit of the Western Mindanao Regional Party Committee of the New People’s Army.

The military said Lapinig was responsible for the murders of two soldiers, the disarming of police personnel in Don Victoriano Chiongbian Municipality in Misamis Occidental and for the torching of construction equipment in the Zamboanga Peninsula.

Lapinig was killed during the operation of the Joint Task Group IGSOON with the Zamboanga del Norte Provincial Police. Suscano said the operation also left two soldiers wounded.  /muf