NPA leader killed in Surigao Norte clash

From the Philippine News Agency (Feb 9, 2022): NPA leader killed in Surigao Norte clash (By Alexander Lopez)

SEIZED WAR MATERIALS. Troopers from the Army’s 30th Infantry Battalion seize high-powered firearms, ammunition, and an anti-personnel mine after an encounter with New People’s Army (NPA) rebels on Tuesday (Feb. 8, 2022) in the hinterlands of Barangay Alipao, Alegria, Surigao del Norte. An NPA leader-cum-bomb expert, identified as alias “Wolf,” was killed during the skirmish. (Photo courtesy of 30IB)

A leader of the communist New People’s Army (NPA) was killed in an encounter Tuesday in the vicinity of Barangay Alipao, Alegria, Surigao del Norte, according to the Army’s 30th Infantry Battalion (IB).

In a statement Wednesday, the 30IB identified the slain NPA leader as alias “Wolf,” a bomb-making expert of the NPA Guerrilla Front 16 (GF-16) of the North Eastern Mindanao Regional Committee (NEMRC).

“Alias Wolf is a resident of Kilometer 8, Barangay Bolhoon in Surigao del Sur. The unit is still determining his real identity,” the 30IB said.

The 38IB added that the slain rebel is also the former leader of the Sandatahang Yunit Pampropaganda 16C (SYP-16C) and 16B of GF-16, NEMRC.

On Tuesday, morning, 30IB troopers were dispatched for security operation after receiving reports on the presence of an undetermined number of armed men conducting extortion activities and harassing the residents in the periphery of Barangay Alipao.

“The responding troopers, upon reaching the area, were fired by the NPA insurgents led by Roel Neniel, alias “Jacob” of SYP-16C1 and Alberto Castañeda, alias “JD” of SYP-16C2. The rebels retreated after the encounter that lasted for nearly an hour,” the 30IB statement said.

“As they scampered to different directions, the NPA rebels abandoned the dead body of alias Wolf,” the statement further said.

Soldiers recovered an M16 rifle, an AK-47 rifle, an AR15 rifle, a rifle grenade, and an anti-personnel mine from the encounter site.

Also seized were two AK-47 magazines, three M16 magazines, 970 rounds of AK-47 ammunition, a bandolier, a handheld two-way radio, rain boots, five tents, assorted medicine supplies, and a blood pressure apparatus.

Bomb-making materials were also recovered that included 10 pieces of 1.5V batteries, and a 50-meter wire.

Lt. Col. Ryan Charles Callanta, 30IB commander, lauded the courage of the residents in the area, especially in providing timely and accurate information on the presence of the NPA rebels.

“We thank you for the continued support in our campaign against terrorism and in the efforts to win peace in our localities,” Callanta said in the same statement.

He extended condolences to the family members of alias Wolf who lost his life fighting for the wrong cause of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and the NPA.

Callanta then urged the remaining NPA rebels in Surigao del Norte to surrender and avail of the programs and services of the government.

The CPP-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/1167363