NPA member killed, arms seized in MisOr clash

From the Philippine News Agency (Feb 23, 2019): NPA member killed, arms seized in MisOr clash

A New People's Army (NPA) rebel was killed in an encounter in an uninhabited area in the hilly boundary of the municipalities of Talisayan and Medina in Misamis Oriental province on Saturday.

Soldiers and CAFGU (militia) members under the 58th Infantry Battalion (58IB) encountered the NPA members at around 10 a.m.

The NPA members are believed to be part of the PPH Platoon of Felot, SRC1 led by a certain "Dallas".

The information about the location of the NPA terrorists, according to the Army, was also provided by the locals.

“Our relentless operations in the remote areas are meant to drive the NPA terrorists away from communities so their imposition of permit-to-campaign and permit-to-win fees on candidates for the upcoming elections will be ineffective and useless,” 58IB Commander Lt. Col. Roy Derilo, said.

Five high-powered firearms, consisting of four M16 rifles and one AK47 rifle, were recovered by government troops at the encounter site.

Pursuit operations are ongoing.

On Monday, another NPA member was killed during pursuit operations by Army Special Forces in Lantapan, Bukidnon.

“Civilians are tipping off the precise locations of NPA terrorist hideouts and their activities as they declare the CPP-NPA as 'persona non grata' or undesirable people not welcome in their communities,” 403rd Brigade Commander Col. Edgardo De Leon said.

“As we embark on a Peaceful War, by bringing in government services to resolve social ills in the remote communities, we have to continue our security patrols in the hinterlands so the NPA terrorists will not have the chance to disrupt our peacekeeping campaign” 4ID Commander Brigadier General Franco Nemesio Gacal said.

The United States and European Union have declared the NPA as a terrorist group.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1062799