READ: How peace talks with communist rebels failed
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 29) — A suspected rebel leading extortion activities in Mindanao was killed in an encounter with government troops in Bukidnon, the military said Saturday.
The Eastern Mindanao Command in a news release identified the alleged member of the New People’s Army as Eduardo Arnado, also known as Choi. The military said Arnado served as deputy secretary for the Guerilla Front 53 and “head extortionist” in Cotabato province and in the southern parts of Davao del Sur and Bukidnon.
According to the military, soldiers from the 3rd and 19th Infantry Battalions were conducting security operations at Sitio Lamparuc, Barangay Sampagar in Damulog town, Bukidnon when they encountered a group of rebels Friday afternoon. A resident informed them about the presence of an armed group in the remote area.
The soldiers and rebels engaged in a 10-minute firefight, which resulted in the NPA members’ retreat. They left Arnado’s body behind, the military said.
A caliber .45 pistol with magazine and ammunition, spent shells from various high-powered firearms, and other personal belongings were recovered from the encounter site.
The NPA is the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines which has waged a five-decade insurgency – the longest-running in Asia. President Rodrigo Duterte has been calling on the rebels to surrender since he walked away from the peace talks in 2017.
The two camps are considering returning to the negotiating table, but Duterte and CPP founding chairman Jose Maria Sison could not agree on contentious issues, including the venue of the meetings.
