SANTA CRUZ, Laguna- A top member of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP)-New People’s Army (NPA) was killed while four others were captured in a clash with Laguna Police Provincial Public Safety Company (PPSC) at a checkpoint in Barangay Dambo, Pangil, Laguna around 4:10 p.m. on Wednesday.
The Laguna cops also recovered one Garand rifle, two cal. 45 pistols, one Ingram, two hand grenades, personal belongings and subversive documents which were brought to the Scene of the Crime Operations (SOCO), Police Regional Office (PRO4A) for proper disposition.
In a media presentation Thursday, during his first provincial command visit at the Laguna Provincial Police Office (LPPO) in Camp Gen. Paciano Rizal here, Chief Supt. Guillermo Eleazar, Police Regional Office (PRO) 4-A director, said the armed confrontation was a product of two days of surveillance efforts by joint police operatives.
Eleazar said the joint police and military operations comprised the 2nd Laguna Mobile Force Company (LMFC), Regional Mobile Force Battalion (RMFB) 4-A and Regional Intelligence Unit (RIU) 4A in collaboration with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
He said the operations resulted in the armed confrontation amid reports of the presence of NPA units engaged in extortion activities, as well as the plan to liquidate uniformed police personnel in this town and Alaminos, Laguna.
“We learned that the objective of this group is to collect revolutionary taxes which we cannot discount since we are in the election period,” Eleazar said.
“We also would like to address on groups that will do harm to our personnel which President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has been calling our attention, that is why we conduct counter measures every time we receive information and it is timely that we are conducting Comelec checkpoints during this election period, we were able to capture them,” he added.
Eleazar said the group was on board a red Datsun van flagged down by cops manning the Comelec checkpoint at Barangay Dambo, Pangil.
A firefight ensued, which resulted in the death of Ismael Salazar Criste, alias “Ka Maeng,” 62, a resident of Barangay Kabulusan in nearby Pakil town, and the identified leader of Rebolusyonaryong Buwis Para sa Kaaway na Uri (RBKU) Cesar Batralio Command of the NPA.
The four captured members were identified as Luis E. Alano Jr. alias “JR,” 44, from Tanauan City, Batangas, an RBKU member; Shirley De Guzman Martinez, alias “Shee,” 47, from San Antonio, Quezon, an RBKU member; Felicidad De Mesa Villegas, alias “Ka Fely,” 60, from Barangay Banilan, Pakil, a member of Communist Party of the Philippines/New People’s Army/National Democratic Front Special Partisan Armed Unit (CNN SPARU); and Cristy Ramos Lacuarta alias “Tintin,” 30, a resident of Dao Nasunugan, Capiz City and a CNN SPARU member.
Police Provincial Director Senior Supt. Kirby John Kraft clarified that the captured NPAs were involved primarily in extortion, asking revolutionary taxes and not the armed operating elements of the NPA.
“They are asking revolutionary taxes from business establishments such as poultry, companies and businessmen here in Laguna,” Kraft said, adding that the group was also assigned to liquidate those who could spoil their activities such as uniformed personnel in the towns of Sta. Cruz and Alaminos.
He said that a case for violation of Republic Act 10591 or Illegal Possession of Firearms and Ammunition and Republic Act 9516 or Illegal Possession of Explosives in relation to Comelec Gun Ban were filed before the Prosecutors Office.
Meanwhile, Southern Luzon Command (SolCom) Commander Lt. General Danilo Pamonag in a message released to the media, has commended the PNP for their professionalism, vigilance, observance of the rule of law and respect for human rights. (PNA)
