More blows dealt on NPA in Mindanao

BUTUAN CITY – The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) captured an alleged supply officer and courier of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) in Barangay Napnapan, Pantukan, Compostela Valley (ComVal) province, according to First Lt. Jhocell D. Asis, Civil Military Operation (CMO) officer of the Army’s 71st Infantry (Kaibigan) Battalion (71st IB).

In a statement sent to The Manila Bulletin on Thursday afternoon, the 71st IB CMO officer also said that the peace and development team of the 71st IB and Pantukan Municipal Police Station (MPS) apprehended in a separate operation three suspected armed NPA terrorists in Sitio Binogsayan, Barangay Napnapan, Pantukan, ComVal province, also on Wednesday.

The identities of the apprehended CPP-NPA supply and courier officer, as well as the armed NPA suspects, were withheld pending thorough investigation.

This developed as four alleged officials of the CPP-NPA surrendered to the First Special Forces Battalion (1st SFBn) in Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon province on Friday.

Accoding to Capt. Ryan D. Layug, Civil Military Operation (CMO) officer of the 403rd Infantry (Peacemaker) Brigade, those who yielded were a certain “Ka Jai-Jai,” 24, political officer of SYP Company 3, Sub-Regional Committee 4 (SRC 4); “Ka Diding,” 63, staff of Regional Urban Committee (RUC); “Ka Jao,” 34, liaison staff of RUC; and “Ka Lala”, finance officer and political instructor of Platoon “Derek”, SYP Coy-2, Guerilla Front 68-A, SRC 4, all of the CPP-NPA North-Central Mindanao Regional Committee (NCMRC).

The real names of the CPP-NPA officials were temporarily withheld for their safety and security while tactical investigation is also ongoing, it said.