One NPA killed in clash with 53IB troopers

 By Jong Cadion

PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur (May 4, 2017) - One member of the New Peoples’ Army was killed in a clash with government troops yesterday in the hinterlands of Pagadian City.

Commanding Officer of 53IB Ltc Virgilio C. Hamos Jr disclosed that troops of Charlie Company, 53IB led by 1Lt Roderick H Alcantara were conducting combat operations yesterday at Sitio Sirawag, Brgy Lisson Valley, Zamboanga del Sur when they encountered the section-sized NPA unit led by a certain AKA Marlon at about 12:40 PM that led to a fierce exchange of gun fires.

Initial reports from the ground said that the communist terrorists withdrew after fifteen minutes of the fight leaving behind one slain member. The fatality had yet to be identified.

Ltc Hamos said that the troops recovered a fragmentation grenade, CPP flag,two cellular phones, one ammo for 12 gauge shotgun, one NPA uniform and subversive enemy documents to the dead communist terrorist. The position of the grenade relative to the dead terrorist strongly indicates that the NPAs attempted to booby trap the body to inflict casualties to the approaching government troops and delay their advance.

No government soldier was hurt during the firefight, he added.

The combat operation was in response to reports from civilians in the vicinity that there is a presence of NPAs extorting money.

The NPAs are believed to be members of SYP-KARA of the Western Mindanao Regional Party Committee operating in the province of Zamboanga del Sur.

Ltc Virgilio C Hamos Jr, the Commanding Officer of 53IB immediately sent additional troops to track down fleeing communist terrorists and likewise arranged the immediate extraction of the slain NPA from the encounter site.

Meanwhile, Colonel Jacinto Bareng, Brigade Commander of the 102^nd Infantry Brigade stressed out that battalions under his command will continue the offensive operations against the Western Mindanao Regional Party Committee in Zamboanga Peninsula to pressure them to abandon their armed struggle.

Likewise, BGen Rolando Joselito Bautista, the 1^st Infantry (Tabak) Division Commander congratulated the 53IB troops for the accomplishment.