By Jennifer P. Rendon
CAPIZ – A suspected member of the New People’s Army (NPA) was killed in a clash with government troops on Dec. 10 in Tapaz, Capiz.
The fatality was identified as Jerryl Giganto Katipunan, alias Osong or Jason, a member of the NPA’s Regional Sentro De Grabidad (RSDG) Madia-as Platoon.
Katipunan was killed during a 10-minute firefight with soldiers from the Philippine Army’s 12th Infantry Battalion (12IB) at Barangay Tacayan, Tapaz, around 10:47 a.m. Tuesday.
The troops encountered three suspected rebels, believed to be remnants of the dismantled Central Front and RSDG.
After the clash, soldiers recovered Katipunan’s body and paraphernalia belonging to the communist terrorist group (CTG) at the site.
The Army reported no casualties on their side.
The encounter came a day after the 12IB seized high-powered firearms and explosives from around 14 NPA members during a 14-minute firefight in the same village on Dec. 9.
The recoveries from Monday’s operation included an M653 assault rifle, an M16 assault rifle, four rifle grenades, three M16 magazines with ammunition, and three backpacks.
Major General Marion Sison, commander of the 3rd Infantry Division (3ID), commended the 12IB for their series of successful combat operations in Tapaz.
“We are resolute in our drive to end the decades-long insurgency in Panay,” Sison said, highlighting recent encounters, arms cache recoveries, and NPA surrenders as steps toward this goal.
He emphasized the division’s mission to dismantle the NPA’s manpower, armed capability, and support systems to achieve Stable Internal Peace and Security (SIPS) in Panay Island.
Sison also urged remaining NPA members to surrender, warning them of the same fate as Katipunan and others who perished in recent encounters.
“Choose the path of peace while you still have time,” Sison said, assuring them of government assistance through the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) and the Amnesty Program.
