NPA couple killed in Kalinga encounter

From the Philippine Information Agency (Mar 18, 2021): NPA couple killed in Kalinga encounter (By Peter A. Balocnit)

BALBALAN, Kalinga, March 18 (PIA) - - A New People’s Army (NPA) couple was found dead in an encounter with the military on March 15 at Sitio Babacong, Gawaan, this municipality.

Authorities identified the NPA cadres as Rudy Daguitan alyas “Pinpin” who died on the encounter site and his party wife, Nora Miguel alyas “Gemay”, whose body was seen in an abandoned hut at Sitio Fukong, Brgy. Gawa-an.

Daguitan was the Political Officer/Political Instructor of Komiteng Larangan Baggas of Ilocos Cordillera Regional Committee (KLG-ICRC) and had P2.3 million bounty for his capture while Ka “Gemay” was the Medical Officer of KLG Baggas. The couple had three children

Daguitan, 58, reportedly joined the NPA movement after graduating Commerce in Bontoc, Mountain Province.

Elements of the 50th Infantry Battalion were patrolling the mountain lair of the communist terrorist group at Sitio Babacong, barangay Gawaan when they were fired upon by about 20 NPAs headed by one alyas Mio of Platoon Guevara, KLG-ICRC, resulting to a firefight, the 5th Infantry Division reported.

When the firefight subsided, the military entered the NPA camp and found the body of a rebel identified as Ka Pinpin who was abandoned by his companions. A long firearm was also recovered at the abandoned camp.

In the subsequent clearing operations, the soldiers found Ka Gemay’s body in an abandoned hut at Sitio Fukong, also in Brgy Gawa-an. With the help of some civilians, 50th IB troopers brought down the body of Alyas Gemay.

The remains of the couple were later brought to the house of one of Rudy’s relatives in Bulanao, Tabuk City for their wake and burial.

503rd IB Commnader, Col. Santiago Enginco lauded his troops for the successful mission. “Malaking kawalan sa KLG Baggas ang pagkamatay ni alyas Pinpin. Mapipilay ang pag-iindoktrina at pagtuturo ng ideolohiyang komunismo sa kanilang mga kasapi at sa mga sumusuportang masa,” he said.

On the other hand, MGen. Laurence Mina. Commander of the 5 ID, said what happened to Ka Pinpin should serve as a lesson to the remnants of the CPP-NPA.

“Magsilbi sanang aral ang sinapit ni Rudy Daguitan alyas Pinpin sa mga nalalabi pang kasapi ng teroristang CPP-NPA. Ito ay isa na namang patunay na hindi pinapahalagahan ang mga miyenbro ng rebeldeng grupo,” he said.

Mina called on the remaining NPA rebels to surrender and join the main stream society before it’s too late. (JDP/PAB-PIA CAR, Kalinga)

https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1069758