NPA leader critically wounded

MANILA, Philippines -Top New People’s Army leader in Davao Lencio Pitao, was that slippery enough that despite being wounded he was able to escape, thanks to his loyal followers, during an Army raid at his camp at Paquibato district last month.

Pitao’s near capture was only made known yesterday as the military is continuously validating reports that the aging top Davao NPA leader is now nursing serious gunshot wounds he sustained during the encounter that left one Scout Ranger dead.

Lt. Gen. Raymundo Ferrer, commander of the Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom), meanwhile, said that they are still validating this report. One of the ground commanders of Task Force Davao told The STAR that a section of the Army Scout Rangers composed of 16 men hit Pitao’s mountain lair in Paquibato on April 6.

“This operations triggered more than three hours fighting leaving one member of the raiding team dead,” the officer said. He said that at the height of the fighting the soldiers were surprised to find out that there were up to about 60 fully armed NPA guerrillas.

The one-side fighting turned in favor of the Scout Rangers following the arrival of reinforcements. As part of the guerilla strategy, NPAs usually engaged government troops in brief skirmishes before escaping.

“In this particular operation, they (NPAs) were the ones overwhelming us with what they have, pati ang 60 caliber machinegun nila,” the officer said.

When the rebel camp was finally overran, the troops recovered inside the encampment Pitao’s communist hat also known as the Mao hat. This hat was often used by Pitao in his clandestine interviews with the media. “Kaya pala binalik-balikan kami dahil na pin down doon si Pitao. Siguro umalis lang sila matapos na nailabas na nila siya. Bukod sa may tama, matanda na siya para tumakbo,” the officer said.

The raid came weeks after Pitao vowed to avenge the brutal death of his daughter Rebelyn. Rebelyn, while on her way home was abducted by yet unidentified suspects on March 4 in Davao City. Her body was discovered the following day dumped in an irrigation canal in Carmen, Davao del Norte.

Autopsy reports showed that she was tortured and sexually molested before she was stabbed to death with the use of an ice pick by her abductors.