NPA leader killed in Balatan

By Ana-Liza S. Macatangay

Army troopers killed a leader of the New People’s Army (NPA) during an encounter in Barangay Laganac, Balatan, Camarines Sur at around 6:45 PM on Saturday, Mar. 20, an Army report said.

Capt. John Paul Belleza, 9th Infantry Division (9ID) spokesperson, said Carlito Perit, who was also using aliases such as Ruth, Reyal and Remar, was killed in a gunfight with the joint elements of the 902nd Infantry Brigade and Philippine National Police (PNP).

Perit is the leader of the Bicol Regional Party Committee’s priority guerilla front, Platoon 3, Larangan 1, Komiteng Probinsya 5. He was abandoned by his two companions after learning that he perished during the firefight.

Belleza said Perit’s activities were made known to them through a tipster.

“He was killed after government troopers conducted security operations in the area following the report of a concerned citizen regarding the presence of communist NPA terrorists (CNTs) in their barangay conducting extortion activities,” Belleza added.

A caliber .45 pistol and a magazine were also recovered from the encounter site.

902nd Infantry Brigade Commander Col. Jaime Abawag Jr., extended his gratitude to the residents of Laganac for their cooperation, which led to the operation.

“Had it not been for the prompt report of the local populace, we could have not thwarted the CTG’s continuous extortion in the midst of the pandemic,” Abawag said.

MGen. Henry A. Robinson, Jr., PA, 9ID commander and head of the Joint Task Force Bicolandia (JTFB), congratulated the soldiers, police and the community for their sincere intent to end the decade-long terrorism in the countryside. He said that the latest success of the government troopers is another big loss to the NPA’s already declining capability.

“Losing one of its leaders will surely cripple the CTG especially that Perit is handling a platoon of the priority guerilla front. For us, it is a step forward in achieving our goal to continue dismantling guerilla fronts and stop them from leeching off the local populace including the poorest of the poor,” Robinson said.

He again appealed to the remaining members of the NPA to surrender, put down their arms and return to the folds of the law.

“To the remaining members of the CTG, your number is already dwindling, return to the folds of law, and do not waste your life in this senseless fight. This terrorist group is not worth dying for, I tell you. Do not abandon your family or your future just because of a false belief,” Robinson further said. (PIA5/Camarines Sur, with reports from CPTJPBelleza,DPAO)