2 NPA leaders slain in Davao Sur clash

DAVAO CITY – Two top members of the communist New People’s Army were killed in a 45-minute clash with government troops on Friday in Sitio Lanan, Barangay Goma in Digos City, Davao del Sur, about 50 kilometers away from here.

Lt. Col. Rhojun Rosales, 39th IB commander, said troops from the 39th Infantry Battalion were patrolling in the area when they clashed with about 30 NPA rebels early Friday morning.

The troops have been pursuing members of the NPA’s Front Committee 51 since 1 p.m. Thursday following reports the rebels had been recruiting members in the area.

Rosales identified one of the bodies as that of Commander Camille, 35, the wife of the brother of a certain Commander Jasmin, former leader of Front 51, who hailed from Magpet, North Cotabato.

“Based on the pictures of the rebels in our files, we believe that the body is that of Commander Camille, and the male one was another leader whose identity we are still validating,” Rosales said.

Rosales said the NPA in North Cotabato failed to celebrate their founding anniversary on March 28 because government troops had surrounded their position.

He said the rebels ran to Davao del Sur where they started to regroup and recruit more members.

“They are planning to ask revolutionary tax from some candidates as the election starts,” he said.

Rosales said there were no casualties on the government side.

“Today (Saturday) we will airlift the bodies but we are also conducting search operations in the area after we receive reports that there are still rebels killed in the mountains,” Rosales said.