New People’s Army members are seen wielding high-powered firearms in this photo taken in Marihatag, Surigao del Sur, on Dec. 26, 2018. FILE / ERWIN MASCARIÑAS
MANILA, Philippines — Two alleged members of the New People’s Army (NPA) were killed in separate clashes in Misamis Oriental and Surigao del Sur, the Philippine Army said on Tuesday.
On Feb. 11, 58th Infantry Battalion figured in a 10-minute firefight with more or less nine NPA members at Sitio Kayagan, Barangay Quezon Heights in Misamis Oriental’s Balingasag town.
This led to the death of a certain Miguel Sereño, a vice squad leader of a squad under the North Central Mindanao Regional Committee.
In Surigao del Sur, troops of the 3rd Special Forces Battalion also figured in a firefight with the Regional Operations Command (ROC) of the North Eastern Mindanao Regional Committee (NEMRC) in Barangay Baucawe, in Lianga town.
This resulted in the death of an alleged NPA medic under the NEMRC.
“After our troops thoroughly scoured and cleared the area due to heavy blood stains at the encounter site, we discovered an abandoned female … cadaver initially identified as alias ‘Sunshine’, medic of ROC, NEMRC,” said Lieutenant Colonel Paulo Baylon, 3rd Special Forces Battalion commanding officer, in a statement.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) previously said that a total of 13 alleged NPA members were killed from January 1 until February 8.
As of Dec. 2023, the NPA is now down to about 1,500 fighters, far from its peak of around 25,000 in 1987, according to the AFP.
READ: Padilla: AFP vows to eliminate NPA by end of 2024
The Communist Party of the Philippines’ political wing National Democratic Front of the Philippines is now exploring the possibility of resuming peace talks with the government.
Established on March 29, 1969, the NPA has been waging the longest-running Maoist insurgency in the world.