3 communist leaders fall in Bataan

MANILA, Philippines - Government security forces captured three suspected ranking communist leaders based in Central Luzon during a raid on their safehouse in Samal, Bataan Wednesday afternoon.

Arrested were Rafael Limcumpao, alias Ka Pacoy; Domingo Alcantara, alias Ka Mandy; and Archie Bathan, secretary, finance officer and unit district chairman, respectively, of the Marxista-Leninista Partido ng Pilipinas-Rebolusyonaryong Hukbong Bayan (MLPP-RHB).

Col. Jose Mabanta, commanding officer of the Army’s 703rd Infantry Brigade, said the three, which had pending arrest warrants, were cornered after a brief firefight with Army soldiers and police intelligence operatives in Sitio Bubuyog, Barangay Ibaba, Samal town. – Jaime Laude, Ric Sapnu