NPA leader, 3 others die in clashes in Mindanao

PAGADIAN CITY—Three days after the Christmas Day operation that killed top leaders of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Bukidnon province, the communist rebels suffered another setback in Zamboanga del Norte province.

Lt. Col. Jimmy Sanz, commanding officer of the Army’s 97th Infantry Battalion, said among the four NPA guerrillas killed in separate clashes in Sergio Osmeña town on Wednesday and Thursday was Maria Luz Ranan, alias “Mona” and “Inez,” secretary of the Guerrilla Front Sendong operating in Misamis Occidental province.

Ranan, a native of Loreto, Agusan del Sur and the other fatalities were identified through rebel returnees who now work with the Army.

The three other fatalities were Mary Ann Nabecis, alias “Bianca,” of Impasugong, Bukidnon; Jerome Albios, alias “Raffy,” of Molave, Zamboanga del Sur; and Charlie Hintapa, alias “Esik” and “Andot,” of Pangantucan, Bukidnon.

The rebels first clashed with government troops on Wednesday afternoon in Wilben village where Hintapa was slain. The second clash was on Thursday morning in San Jose village where Ranan, Nabecis and Albios were killed.

Sanz said no soldier was hurt in the firefight.

Brig. Gen. Elmer Suderio, commander of the Army’s 102nd Infantry Brigade, thanked Zamboanga del Norte Gov. Rosalina Jalosjos for providing caskets for the four rebels, whose remains were sent to their respective families on Friday.Suderio said Ranan’s remains were claimed by her brother, a soldier of the Army’s 10th Infantry Battalion, the same unit that was pursuing the guerrilla front operating in Misamis Occidental.

“It was only lately that we discovered this fact. It was a sad ending for her (Ranan) as we were told that her brother did everything to convince her to return to the fold of the law, to no avail,” Suderio said.

On Friday, the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) “vehemently” condemned the military for the “disproportionate use of force” in the Christmas Day attack on its camp in Malaybalay City that killed 10 rebels.

CPP chief information officer Marco Valbuena, in a statement, said: “The attack caused an excessive number of deaths. The bodies of some of the fatalities were grossly mangled, while others were dismembered during the vicious overkill.”“The aerial attack, which was carried out for several hours, constitutes a brazen violation of international humanitarian law and the civilized conduct of war,” he said. —WITH A REPORT FROM RYAN D. ROSAURO INQ