NPA fighter killed in clash with government troops in Mindoro Occidental

By Ronron
November 25, 2007

A suspected platoon leader of the New People’s Army (NPA) was killed in an encounter Sunday afternoon against government troops in Mindoro Occidental province.

The incident happened even as the military has declared a suspension of military offensives (SOMO) in the entire Luzon, including the Mindoro provinces, due to the onset of typhoon “Mina.”

According to Maj. Randolph Cabangbang, spokesman of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Southern Luzon Command, the encounter happened at around 2pm at Sitio Tikian, Barangay Monte Claro in San Jose town.

Cabangbang said government troops clashed with some 30 suspected rebels for 15 minutes, resulting in the death of Nonito Panado, believed to be a platoon leader of the NPA.

“Several communist terrorists were also wounded as evidenced by bloodstain along their route of withdrawal,” Cabangbang said.

There was no casualty on the government side, he said.

Recovered from Panado was an M16 rifle, one landmine, personal belongings and documents with intelligence value, Cabangbang said.

Both the military and the NPA have announced the declaration of a SOMO since Saturday so their respective troops can help in the disaster relief and rescue operations during the onset of “Mina.”

The 6,200-strong NPA has been waging guerilla warfare in the countryside in the last 38 years and has backed out from the peace negotiations with the government in August 2004 after it was tagged as terrorist by foreign governments.

The Arroyo government has vowed to crush the movement by 2010./DMS