By Jennifer P. Rendon
At least five suspected New People’s Army (NPA) rebels were killed in the latest skirmish with the Philippine Army in Calinog, Iloilo.
Lieutenant Colonel Vicel Jan Garsuta, commander of the 12th Infantry Battalion, said the bodies were discovered during a clearing operation following the clash at around 3 p.m. on August 8 in Barangay Aglonok, Calinog.
One of the fatalities was a woman, but Garsuta noted that the identities of the deceased rebels have yet to be confirmed.
Garsuta mentioned that weather permitting, the military plans to airlift the bodies from the encounter site to the town proper.
He added that it took three to four days for soldiers to reach the remote area, which borders Lambunao in Iloilo and Valderrama in Antique province.
Aside from the bodies recovered, the Army does not rule out the possibility of additional rebel casualties.
During the operation, soldiers also seized three high-powered firearms—two M16 rifles and an M203 grenade launcher.
Another suspected NPA rebel was killed in a separate firefight on August 7 in Barangay Cabatangan, Lambunao.
That encounter involved troops from the 61st, 12th, and 82nd Infantry Battalions, as well as a composite team from the NPA’s Regional Headquarters (RHQ) and Central Front, Komiteng Rehiyon-Panay (CF, KR-P).
The August 8 clash also resulted in the death of Jose Jerry Tacaisan, alias Miller/Bronze, 54, a member of RHQ, KR-P, and a former squad leader of the dismantled Southern Panay Front.
Tacaisan, who was from Sitio Tabionan, Barangay Bucari, Leon, was reportedly a high-ranking rebel leader.
The Lambunao encounter occurred two days after the 12th Infantry Battalion overran an NPA temporary encampment in Calinog, Iloilo.
In that incident, another rebel, Benjamin Cortel, alias Mamang/Amor, was killed.
Cortel, a political officer of RHQ, KR-P, hailed from Barangay Cochero, Molo, Iloilo City, and was the husband of Lenilyn Custorio Jaynos, alias Sandra, a former finance officer of KR-Panay, who was apprehended in September 2022 in Roxas City, Capiz.
Military reports indicated that soldiers had received information about rebel sightings near the boundaries of Lambunao and Calinog towns in Iloilo and Valderrama, Antique.
In addition to Tacaisan’s body, the military recovered an M16 assault rifle, 85 rounds of 5.56mm ammunition, magazines for the M16, a bandolier, subversive documents with high intelligence value, and personal belongings.
The August 5 encounter dealt a significant blow to the rebels, as they also lost a cache of firearms and ammunition.
“Wala na silang gamit ngayon. Wala na ring armas at pagkain,” Garsuta said, indicating that the rebels are now without weapons and supplies. He urged the remaining rebels to surrender.
Earlier, Major General Marion Sison, commander of the 3rd Infantry Division, stated that the military would not rest until the last remaining guerrilla front of the communist terrorist group in Panay is dismantled.
Sison expressed confidence that with the continued support of all those working toward establishing a state of stable internal peace and security, Iloilo and the entire Panay Island will become more peaceful and progressive places to live.
