Two top-ranking members of the Communist Party of the Philippines and a still unidentified suspected cohort were killed during a shootout with security forces in a law enforcement operation in Novaliches, Quezon City Thursday.
Col. Ramon Zagala, spokesman of the Philippine Army identified the two CPP-NPA leaders as Eleuterio Sadyaw Agmaliw, alias Omeng, and Freddie Daileg, both operating at the hinterlands of Sierra Madre.
Zagala said Agmaliw was the commander of the Kilusang Larangan Guerilla Sierra Madre, while Daileg was the Deputy Secretary of Larangan Guerilla Platun 1 of the Central Luzon Regional Committee.
Zagala said the two ranking communist leaders were killed as they challenged police and military personnel during the service of warrants for their arrest.
Both CPP-NPA leaders were facing destructive arson; murder and frustrated murder and rebellion.
“During the apprehension, however, the suspects fired at the arresting officers and a gunfight ensued for four minutes,” Zagala said in a statement.
During the exchange of fire, a still unidentified person was also killed while two police officers were wounded.
Recovered from the scene were an M16 rifle, a cal. 38 revolver, two hand grenades, improvised explosive device components, cell phones, a laptop, and subversive documents.
“This accomplishment is largely attributed to our efforts of capacitating our forces for greater mission effectiveness and excellent performance,” said Army chief Lt. Gen. Gilbert Gapay.
“We assure the public that capacitating our forces is a continuous effort, and coupled with the support of our people we will be able to accomplish more in the pursuit of lasting peace,” Gapay added.
Last week, four NPA cadres including a ranking commander were killed in an encounter with army troops and police in Matnog, Sorsogon.
The four slain NPA cadres included Robert Estiller aka Cindy/Meo, Commanding Officer of Sentro De Grabidad, Larangan 2, Komiteng Probinsya 3 of Bicol Regional Party Committee operating in the towns of Bulan, Irosin, Matnog, Magallanes, Castilla and Juban.
Maj. Ricky Anthony Aguilar, Public Affairs chief of the Army’s 9th Infantry Division, reported that army and police forces from the 31st IB, 91st Division Reconnaissance Company and 1st and 2nd Sorsogon Provincial Mobile Force Company were on combat patrol in brgy Tugas when they encountered 60 terrorists.
