6 NPA rebels captured in Nueva Ecija

MANILA, Philippines—Six suspected members of the New People’s Army (NPA) were captured in Nueva Ecija late Wednesday, a military official said.

In a statement, Colonel Hilario Vicente C. Lagnada, commander of the 56th Infantry Battalion, said that the rebels were captured after a 10-minute clash in Sto. Niño village, Santa Rosa town in Nueva Ecija on Wednesday.

Lagnada said a platoon of soldiers was deployed, led by Captain Noel Wamil, to support local police serving a search warrant in a suspected NPA hide-out in the said village. The joint police and military elements were approaching an isolated farmhouse when rebels occupying the hut opened fire at them,  prompting them to retaliate.

A 10-minute gun fight ensued ending with NPA rebels withdrawing with their wounded comrades, Lagnada said.

One of the rebels captured, identified as Efren Delalamon alias “Baste”, sustained a gunshot wound in the arm and was treated by the Army’s combat medics.

Other arrested rebels were identified as Carla Ramos Bautista, aka “Joy”, a political instructor of the Central Luzon Regional Committee (CLRC); Andres Lapuz Ely, aka “Marco”; John Michael Ilito; Felix Sarabia and Ambrosio Ilito.

The arrested rebels were taken to the provincial police office for inquest proceedings which will be facilitated by the Nueva Ecija PNP chief Police Senior Superintendent Roberto Aliggayu.

Meanwhile, government forces recovered one M16 rifle, two hand grenades, five live ammunition for cal .45 gun, 121 live ammunition for M16 rifles, one black Toshiba laptop, one portable generator set, one iCom radio, a pair of handcuff, three cellphones, assorted medical paraphernalia and medicines, and cash amounting to P116,000.

The arrest of the alleged rebels came a day before the 43rd founding anniversary of the NPA.