NPA leader slain in clash with cops

SAN JOSE CITY — A top New People’s Army leader was killed in an encounter at a police checkpoint in Barangay Palestina here between a seven-man rebel group and local policemen night of Feb. 26.

Two policemen and a civilian were seriously injured. Nueva Ecija police director Senior Supt. Ricardo Marquez identified the slain rebel as Ariel Castillo, resident of Zambales, and secretary of the NPA’s Sangay ng Partido sa Platoon operating in Zambales and an alternate member of the Central Luzon Regional Committee.

Castillo’s postal ID showed he is a resident of Barangay Babangkal, Botolan, Zambales. Menardo Calosa y Bernas, 38, married, operator of a commandeered Isuzu Elf truck was slightly injured in the encounter.

The 10-minute firefight was triggered by an M-203 grenade fired by the rebels. Unfazed, the policemen fired back, hitting the top rebel leader.

Found at the site of the clash were one M-16 Armalite rifle, a laptop, several rounds of ammunition, 12 backpacks, cellular phones, and subversive documents.

One-hundred-two M-16 bullet shells were gathered at the clash site, it was learned. Police chief Supt. Sidney N. Villaflor reported that the Elf Isusu forward truck with plate number WEE 364 owned by Menardo Calosa y Bernas, 38, was commandeered by a 10-man NPA band Feb. 27 in Barangay Garambon, Rizal town.

Headed for Lupao, the NPA group was flagged down by policemen manning the checkpoint in Lupao.

They retreated, but police gave chase. They took a circuitous route which ended in Barangay Parista where they ran into a police blocking force. -- MV