BY RHENJIE MARIE CALANTAS & RUBY P. SILUBRICO
ILOILO City – A suspected New People’s Army (NPA) rebel was killed in a gun battle with government forces on Sunday at the boundary of barangays Cananaman and Ayubo in Leon, Iloilo.
Rebecca “Mara” Aliparo of Barangay Bagacay, Tigbauan, Iloilo, was believed to be the political instructor and finance officer of the NPA’s Southern Front, Panay Region Committee.
“Alias Mara was listed as a political instructor and sa finance din. Ang political instructor is a very important position kay mga ideologue na sila. Sila ang nagasige indoctrinate sang mga polisiya sang standard committee. We consider this a major blow to the Southern Front,” Brigadier General Michael Samson, commander of the 301st Infantry Brigade, told Panay News.
The gun battle with three rebels started around 12:45 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 13, and lasted five minutes.
“We observe nga they usually split into smaller groups, especially pag intensified ang operations sa area,” Samson added.
The authorities recovered a .45 pistol, a hand grenade, two backpacks, and personal belongings.
There were no casualties or wounded among the government troops.
“We responded sa mga information galing sa mga mamamayan. Hindi na sila welcome sa mga tao, that is why we frequently receive information regarding their presence,” Samson said./PN
