6 NPAs killed in Tarlac clashes; 5 captive Davao soldiers released

MANILA, Philippines - Six communist rebels led by a woman have been killed in clashes with government troops in Camiling, Tarlac, the military said yesterday.

Residents tipped off the military late Tuesday about nine New People’s Army (NPA) rebels who were trying to set up a support network in a village in Camiling town, military spokesman Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala said.

“The rebels are trying to gain leverage in the area,” Zagala said.

Three other rebels escaped during the firefight that lasted into the early hours yesterday, he said. Zagala did not name their slain woman leader.

He said the six slain insurgents were among only 19 NPA rebels believed to be still operating in Tarlac, adding that the tip-off supported the military’s view that guerrilla influence in the province has dwindled.

Meanwhile, the NPA released late yesterday afternoon the five Davao soldiers it had held captive for 43 days.

The soldiers were seized last June 17 while doing peace and development work in Sitio Lubas, Barangay Paquibato Proper in Davao City’s Paquibato district.

The soldiers, who belong to the Army’s 60th Infantry Battalion, were released by the NPA’s Pulang Bagani Command led by Leoncio “Parago” Pitao in an undisclosed place in Southern Mindanao.

The NPA reportedly found Cpl. Emmanuel Quezon, Pfcs. Ronald Gura, Bernie Padilla, Donato Estandia, and Pvt. Marteniano Pasiagas Jr. of allegedly being involved in tagging peasant leaders as communists, harassing the families of known NPA members, and the killing of two civilians in Davao City and Davao del Norte.

The five soldiers were turned over to Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, who in turn brought them on board two helicopters to the Armed Forces Eastern Mindanao Command headquarters at Camp Panacan in Davao City. – AFP, Ric Sapnu, Jaime Laude, Alexis Romero, Edith Regalado