NPA leader killed in Albay shootout with gov't forces

From the Philippine News Agency (May 30, 2022): NPA leader killed in Albay shootout with gov't forces (By Connie Calipay)

A wanted high-ranking official of the New People's Army (NPA) operating in Albay was killed by police and military operatives over the weekend as troops were about to serve him warrants of arrest.

In an interview on Monday, Maj. Malu Calubaquib, Police Regional Office in Bicol (PRO-5) spokesperson, identified the suspect as Antonio Abadeza alias "Flattops", a resident of this city.

She said Abadeza was the vice commanding officer of the communist terrorist group under Komite ng Probinsya 3, Platoon 3, Komiteng Sangay sa Platoon operating in Albay.

The suspect had standing warrants of arrest for attempted murder (Criminal Case No. 12063); homicide (Criminal Case No. 12029); robbery with homicide (Criminal Case No. 12010); attempted murder (Criminal Case No. 12064); and murder (Criminal Case No. 12267).

Calubaquib said police and military authorities went to Zone 7, Barangay Anislag in Daraga town on Saturday after receiving information from a civilian that Abadeza was in the area, extorting money from a small businessman.

"Operatives proceeded to the area and confirmed the presence of the suspect, who, while on board a motorcycle, noticed the authorities positioned along the road. They tried to stop the suspect but the latter suddenly drew a firearm and fired upon the troops. Sensing imminent danger, government troops retaliated which resulted in the killing of the suspect. On the other hand, no one was hurt on the government side," Calubaquib said.

Recovered from the scene were a firearm of unknown caliber loaded with eight pieces of ammunition; one extra magazine loaded with six live ammunition; four pieces of fired cartridge cases; one black sling bag containing a pouch bag with flash drive; eye drop; 11 pieces of live ammunition; and three pieces of "permit to campaign" sticker.

Calubaquib added that other items recovered from the suspect were a brown wallet containing PHP11,710 cash and assorted subversive documents.

The inventory of the recovered pieces of evidence was conducted in the presence of barangay officials in the said place and its custody is now at Regional Field Unit 5, Camp BGen. Simeon A. Ola here for ballistic and laboratory examinations.

"I humbly laud the efforts of our team and our counterparts from the Philippine Army for another successful operation. We also thank the community for their cooperation and support in our endeavors to solve the problems caused by these rebel groups. With this, we remain firm to do our part with the hope to create a violence-free and peaceful community," Brig. Gen. Mario Reyes, PRO-5 director, said in a statement.

The Communist Party of the Philippines-NPA is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines.

The National Democratic Front has been formally designated as a terrorist organization by the Anti-Terrorism Council on June 23, 2021, citing it as “an integral and inseparable part” of the CPP-NPA created in April 1973.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1175389