NPA rebel found dead in Zamboanga del Norte village

The body of a woman later identified as an NPA fighter was discovered inside a barn in Barangay Macalibre, Sergio Osmeña town, Zamboanga del Norte. (PHOTO FROM 97IB Philippine Army)

DAPITAN CITY – Former New People’s Army (NPA) rebels had identified the dead woman discovered in a hinterland village of Zamboanga del Norte on Saturday, the military said.

Lt. Col. Nolasco B. Coderos Jr., commander of the Army’s 97th Infantry Battalion (97IB), said former colleagues identified the fatality as Daisy Jane Cimafranca who goes by the aliases Miggy and Racquel.

She was found  dead inside a barn in the remote Macalibre village of Sergio Osmeña town, at the foot of the Malindang mountain range that hosts the remaining communist rebels operating in the Zamboanga Peninsula.

Cimafranca’s body bore several gunshot wounds, according to Lt. Adrian Resueno of the 97IB.

Coderos said it appeared that she was “left behind in the barn because she will slow down the retreat of the NPA fighters.”

Army troopers  brought Cimafranca’s body to Sergio Osmeña town for autopsy Saturday afternoon.

On Dec. 1 and Dec. 3, soldiers clashed with NPA rebels in the villages of Linabo and Milad of Polanco town, more than 20 kilometers away from Macalibre.

Coderos said Cimafranca’s body will be turned over to the nearest of kin.

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