Arrested NPA rebel confirms death of 3 comrades, 3 wounded in Bukidnon encounter

From the Philippine News Agency (Feb 27): Arrested NPA rebel confirms death of 3 comrades, 3 wounded in Bukidnon encounter

A member of the New People’s Army (NPA) arrested on Tuesday night confessed that three of his comrades were killed while three others wounded in an encounter with pursuing troopers in Bukidnon last Feb. 23.

Police Supt. Ronnie Cariaga, spokesperson of the regional police command here, said police operatives collared Valeriano Anonsaon Jr., a.k.a. "Junior," in the farming village of Sil-ipon in Libona, Bukidnon Tuesday evening.

Anonsaon was among the suspected rebels who stormed the main camp of Del Monte Philippines, Inc. at Camp Phillips in Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon on the night of Feb. 19, 2013, Cariaga said.

He said the suspect has a pending warrant of arrest with attempted homicide issued by the Municipal Trial Court of Bukidnon.

Police traced Anonsaon’s whereabouts on a tip from an informant where he was reportedly hiding in a relative’s house.

During the initial investigation, the suspect disclosed that their group figured in an encounter with pursuing government troopers last Feb. 23, killing three of his comrades and wounding three others, Cariaga said.

He said the management of Del Monte started to coordinate with the local police in Manolo Fortich for filing of an arson case against Anonsaon.

Some 150 NPA rebels stormed DMPI’s main pineapple camp last Feb. 19, while another group simultaneously attacked a satellite camp in Sumilao and Impasug-ong where the Dole Phil. (Stanfilco) has a banana plantation.

The rebels burned DMPI’s heavy equipment at the main camp, ransacked the administration building, killed a company guard and wounded three others, torched the warehouse in Sumilao and banana plantations in Impasug-Ong, Bukidnon.

Cariaga said Anonsaon was the third rebel suspect to fall as law enforcers continue to pursue the NPAs accused of various atrocities in Bukidnon.

He said police already filed charges against two other suspects caught fleeing in Barangay Kihare, Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon the night the rebels stormed the pineapple and banana companies in the province.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=502074