DEAD on the spot sa encounter site ang dalawang hinihinalang kasapi ng communist terrorist group, matapos na makasagupa ang mga tauhan ng 61st Infantry Battalion ng Philippine Army nitong nakalipas na linggo sa kasagsagan ng pananalasa ng bagyong Egay at ng umiiral na southwest monsoon sa Brgy. Ayabang, Leon, Iloilo.

Ayon sa ulat na ipinarating kay Lieutenant General Benedict M. Arevalo PA, commander ng AFP Visayan Command, nakasagupa ng mga sundalo mula 61st IB na nasa ilalim ng 3rd Infantry Division ng Joint Task Force Spear, ang apat na miyembro ng Southern Front, Komiteng Rehiyon-Panay ng New People’s Army sa Brgy. Ayabang, bayan ng Leon, Iloilo.

Matapos ang ilang minutong bakbakan, tumambad ang bangkay ng dalawang lalaki na sinasabing mga kasapi NPA.

Narekober sa lugar ang isang M16 rifle, dalawang 12-gauge shotgun, isang .45 caliber pistol, anti-personnel mine, isang bandila ng NPA, at backpack na may lamang extortion letters at subversive documents.

Pansamantalang nakalagak sa isang punerarya sa bayan ng Leon, Iloilo, ang mga labi ng dalawang miyembro umano ng NPA.

Ayon kay Lt. Gen. Arevalo, “The Visayas Command (VISCOM) sustains its momentum as the CPP-NPA in the Visayas region suffers another devastating defeat following an encounter with the government troops in Iloilo.”

“With the pronouncement of our President to grant amnesty to former rebels, we will sustain our relentless focused military operations to pressure the ranks of the CPP-NPA for them to lay down their arms and return to the folds of the law,” ani Gen. Arevalo.

“This is also our way of ensuring the peaceful conduct of the upcoming Barangay and SK Elections in the region by preventing the CPP-NPA from sowing terror and threat to our people in order to generate funds and install individuals who are affiliated to the terrorist group.” (JESSE KABEL RUIZ)