4 NPA rebels killed, commander nabbed in Mindanao clashes

Kalamansig, Sultan Kudarat (Wikipedia maps)

KORONADAL CITY – Four suspected communist rebels were killed in separate clashes in Mindanao on Wednesday, while a ranking rebel leader was  captured earlier in the week, authorities said Thursday.

Senior Supt Raul Supiter, the Sultan Kudarat police chief, said two New People’s Army rebels were killed during a clash with Marine soldiers in Barangay Datu Wasay in Kalamansig town. He said the clash ensued when the rebels, led by Tirzo Sakudal alias Commander Macmac of the NPA’s Front 73, attacked the Marines.

Two other rebels were injured while the government incurred no casualty, Supiter said.

In Malaybalay City, two rebels were also killed during a clash in Barangay Kulaman on Wednesday, said 1Lt. Erwin Bugarin, the spokesperson of the Army’s 8th Infantry Battalion.

Bugarin said among those slain was Jimmy Sante Ama, a suspect in the 2014 ambush of Impasug-ong, Bukidnon mayor Mario Okinlay.

In Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur, soldiers under the Army’s 401st Infantry Brigade captured Rany Gargar Undayon, the alleged commander of Platoon 7 of the NPA’s Front Committee 19.

Maj. Gen. Benjamin Madrigal, the commander of the Army’s 4th Division based in Cagayan de Oro City, said soldiers raided Undayon’s hideaway in Barangay Libertad on Tuesday.

Madrigal said Undayon, also known as Ka Ian, faced arrest warrants for murder and frustrated murder.  SFM/rga

Malaybalay City, Bukidnon (Wikipedia maps)

Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur (Wikipedia maps)