By Jennifer P. Rendon
A man believed to be a remnant of the New People’s Army (NPA) was killed in a brief encounter between rebels and troops of the Philippine Army’s 82nd Infantry Battalion on a February afternoon in Tapaz, Capiz.
Col. Erwin Rommel Lamzon, chief of the Army’s 3rd Division Public Affairs Office, said the fatality was identified by former rebels as Peter Agudez.
Agudez was a resident of Barangay Manika, Libacao, Aklan, but was based in Barangay Sia, Tapaz.
He initially served as a Militia ng Bayan member, supplying information to the rebels, before becoming a courier of supplies for the NPA.
Reports said troops from the 82nd Infantry Battalion were on a combat operation when they encountered about seven armed NPA remnants in the hinterland village of Minan, Tapaz.
The group was believed to be composed of remnants from the Regional Sentro de Grabidad (RSDG) and the dismantled NPA Komiteng Rehiyon Panay – Central Front.
The firefight lasted about five minutes before the rebels fled north.
Soldiers recovered Agudez’s body along with two .30 M1 carbines, two 12-gauge shotguns, six shotgun rounds, a commercial radio, two backpacks, food supplies, personal belongings, and other war materials.
Lamzon said it was highly possible that some rebels were wounded.
“Since we recovered four firearms, they could have been left behind by wounded rebels,” he said.
Lamzon did not rule out the possibility that the rebels in the Tapaz encounter were different from the group involved in a clash with police in Janiuay, Iloilo, on the morning of Feb. 25.
Meanwhile, the 3rd Infantry Division leadership commended the 82nd Infantry Battalion and local residents for their cooperation, which led to the neutralization of an NPA remnant and the recovery of weapons.
“Tapaznons have been on our side since we started our quest towards achieving a peaceful and progressive Tapaz and Panay Island. We are glad that we still have their support in our effort to neutralize the remaining communist terrorists,” Brig. Gen. Michael Samson, 3rd ID acting commander, said.
He emphasized that residents’ support has been crucial in the government’s anti-insurgency campaign.
Samson also urged NPA remnants to abandon armed struggle, embrace peace, and return to mainstream society.
