Top NPA leader killed in clash in Zamboanga del Norte – military

 From Rapper (Nov 14, 2020): Top NPA leader killed in clash in Zamboanga del Norte – military

Leonardo Nabong, the 1st deputy secretary of the Western Mindanao Regional Party Committee of the CPP-NPA, had a P6.15-million bounty on his head

A top leader of the New People's Army (NPA) in Western Mindanao was killed during a clash with government troops on Friday night, November 13.

Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) chief Lieutenant General Corleto Vinluan Jr said in a statement on Saturday, November 14, that the fatality was identified as Leonardo Nabong, also known as Otik, Berto, or Bonie, is the 1st deputy secretary of the Western Mindanao Regional Party Committee (WMRPC) of the Communist Party of the Philippines-NPA.

In a report to Westmincom, Brigadier General Leonel Nicolas said, "The identity of the killed NPA leader was confirmed by former rebels who are currently participating in our livelihood programs."

Vinluan Jr said troops of the 44th Infantry Battalion encountered around 10 members of the Guerilla Front Flex A, WMRPC at Purok 2, Barangay ZNAC, Tampilisan, Zamboanga del Norte at 6:15 pm on Friday.

He said the firefight lasted about 45 minutes, with the NPA withdrawing.

SEIZED. Rifles seized from communist rebels alongside the face-down corpse of Leonardo Nabong (left, blurred). Photo courtesy of Wesmincom

In his report to Westmincom, Nicolas said that Nabong has "existing warrants of arrest for multiple murder with quadruple frustrated murder and damage to government property, and rebellion issued by the Regional Trial Court 10th Judicial Region Branch 36 in Calamba, Misamis Occidental."

Authorities earlier put up a P6.15-million reward for information leading to his arrest.

Troops also recovered weapons and ammunition from the encounter site. – Richard Falcatan/Rappler.com

https://www.rappler.com/nation/zamboanga-del-norte-clash-kills-npa-leader-leonardo-nabong