Military says NPA guerrilla slain in Leyte clash during anti-crime operation

TACLOBAN CITY—The military on Friday (April 9) said a member of New People’s Army (NPA) was killed in a gunfight with soldiers on Thursday (April 8) in the town of Calubian, Leyte province.

Authorities said the casualty, Nicolas Ibanez, was also involved in assassinations and the drug trade.

Police, soldiers and agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) were serving a warrant of arrest for a certain Marlon Mendoza, a former communist guerrilla, for frustrated murder in Calubian around 5 a.m.

When government forces arrived in the area, authorities aid Ibanez and other armed men opened fire which led to the clash.

The subject of the warrant, Mendoza, and other members of the group eluded arrest.

Found in the area were meth, a caliber .45 pistol, an Armalite rifle and bullets.

Brig. Gen. Zosimo Oliveros, commanding officer of the 802nd Infantry Brigade, said the clash showed NPA engaged in other criminal acts like assassinations and drugs.

TSB