3 NPA rebels killed; 3 surrender in Isabela

By Villamor Visaya, Jr.

ILAGAN CITY, Isabela -- Three alleged New People’s Army rebels were killed in a clash with government troops in the mountains of Rang-ayan village here on Feb. 20.
    In Camp Melchor Dela Cruz, Army Major Noriel Tayaban, 5th Infantry Division public affairs chief and spokesperson, on Monday identified the two fatalities as NPA squad leader Ka Bobby and team leader-medical officer Ka Princess (a man).
    The third fatality remains unidentified.
    Their bodies were brought to the Ramos Funeral Parlor in this city.
    The clash occurred after a platoon of Army soldiers belonging to the 95th Infantry Battalion (95IB) went to the site upon receiving information from villagers that about 50 communist rebels belonging to the NPA Isabela Central Front led by a certain Ka Brad and the Regional Sentro de Gravidad (RSDG) led by a certain Ka Bang were in the area.
    "The rebels were reportedly asking for food and apparently retaliating with the declaration of CPP-NPA-NDF (Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army-National Democratic Front) as persona non grata in Ilagan," Tayaban told the PNA.
    After a 15-minute firefight, the rebels withdrew, leaving behind their killed comrades.
    Soldiers seized from them an M-16 Armalite rifle and three .45-caliber handguns.
    An hour prior to the encounter, three communist rebels surrendered to 95IB soldiers in the same village.
    Military officials identified them as Ka Alvin, rebel team leader in San Mariano town; Ka Leslie, who is from the Visayas, supply officer; and a 16-year-old minor, Ka Jimboy from Divilacan, Isabela. -- PNA