3 NPA leaders killed in Cagayan gunfight

By Paula Antolin

STO. NINO, Cagayan -- Government forces killed three high-ranking communist rebel officials in an encounter here on Thursday.
Killed by the troops of the 17th Infantry Battalion in a five-minute firefight were leaders of the New Peoples’ Army Komiteng Probinsya (KOMPROB) Cagayan, Komiteng Rehiyon-Cagayan Valley (KR-CV).
    They were identified as Saturnino Agunoy alias Peping, head of the Regional Operations Department of KR-CV, Mark Canta alias Uno, Giyang Politikal, West Front Committee, and alias Val, medical officer of the West Front Committee.
    Agunoy had 12 cases of qualified assault with murder, and another two cases of qualified assault without murder, arson, and rebellion.
    LtC Oliver C Logan, 17IB battalion commander, said troops were conducting a security patrol in the area when residents informed them about the presence of the rebels.
    “Upon verifying the information, members of the rebels fired at our operating troops which they retaliated. The firefight lasted for five minutes which resulted in the death of their three leaders. Before this, we have learned that the group in the area was led by the notorious alias Simoy,” he said.
    “Some of the rebels scampered in a different direction. So, we alerted our nearest patrol bases and the PNP to conduct blocking position and checkpoint for their possible apprehension,” the battalion commander added.
    Troops recovered in the encounter site two cal. 45 pistol, one hand grenade, one backpack, one Lenovo laptop with charger, one Cherry Mobile smart phone, one USB and personal items, one backpack with medical supplies (12 syringes, three IV fluids, bandages, 30 gauze pad, etc) and subversive documents with high intelligence value.
    Brig. Gen Steve Crespillo, brigade commander of the 501st Infantry Brigade extended his condolences to the families of the killed individuals and warned the remaining members of the communist group to lay down their warms or face the consequences.