FORT MAGSAYSAY, Nueva Ecija — Two high ranking officials of the New People’s Army (NPA) died during a clash with security forces Thursday morning.
The firefight happened as an interagency operation conducted by the Army and Police were about to serve an arrest warrant against the suspects in their safe house in Caloocan City.
The suspects’ action prompted the arresting officers to fire back which resulted to the deaths of Eleuterio Sadyaw Agmaliw who served as Commanding Officer of Komiteng Larangang Gerilya Sierra Madre’s Front Operational Command otherwise known as the Domingo Erlano Command of Komiteng Rehiyon Gitnang Luzon (KRGL). This is a unit of NPA that is in charge of armed partisan works that carried out series of killings, arsons and extortion activities.
Also killed were Freddie Daileg who was Deputy Secretary of Larangang Gerilya sa Patag 1 of the KRGL and one still unidentified suspect.
“This could be the final nail on the coffin of KLG Sierra Madre. With their leaders gone, I see their imminent destruction,” Army 7th Infantry Division (7ID) Commander Major General Lenard T. Agustin said in a statement.
Recovered from the safe house were one M16 rifle with loaded magazine, one loaded caliber 38, two hand grenades, improvised explosive device components, cellphones, a laptop and subversive documents.
From November to December 2019, two encounters between NPA and 7ID troops resulted to the demise of three rebels.
This latest development will total the encounter to three and the body counts to six, if the still unidentified killed suspect is proven to be member of the NPA.
Moreover, for 7ID’s 2019 final quarter, five NPA members were captured and one was arrested.
“I am very proud of how Joint Task Force NCR and Joint Task Force Kaugnay worked together. The support of the people and the local government units are crucial too. Although it is regretful that lives were lost, we must act to stop insurgency or else, more lives will be lost, and more will be ruined. My condolences go to the bereaved families, but my respect rides high for my troops who are doing the best they can to convince other enemies to surrender instead of talking through the barrel of a gun. But if it is a fight they want, then by all means we shall give it to them. To the remaining members of KLG Sierra Madre, we can only help you if you allow us to. Our doors will always remain open for your surrender,” Agustin added.
KLG Sierra Madre is one of the main active guerilla fronts of NPA that operates in the mountain ranges of Sierra Madre, where some parts are under the area of responsibility of the 7ID.