2 CPP leaders slainin Baguio shootout

BAGUIO CITY , Philippines — Two officials of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and their companion were killed in an alleged shootout with government troopers in Barangay Queen of Peace in this city yesterday.

Julius Giron, chairman of the CPP in Northern Luzon and member of the CPP-New People’s Army (NPA) executive committee and CPP military commission; Lourdes Tan Torres, alias Tita, also an alleged member of the CPP executive committee and its national health bureau, and Giron’s unidentified aide allegedly fired at soldiers of the Northern Luzon Command and police officers serving warrants of arrest at around 3 a.m.

The Cordillera police said the warrants are for violation of the Comprehensive Law on Firearms and Ammunition as well as rebellion, murder, arson and frustrated murder.

Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Gen. Felimon Santos Jr. said Giron was also the overall chairman of the CPP-NPA, a position previously held by Benito Tiamzon, who was arrested in Cebu City in 2014.

An M16 rifle, two caliber .45 pistols, three hand grenades, bullets and a magazine for an M16, a laptop, three cellular phones and three USB drives were reportedly recovered from the fatalities.

In Camarines Sur, two M16 rifles, an M203 grenade launcher, a Garand, land mines, hand grenades, magazines and subversive documents were among those recovered from NPA rebels following an encounter in Barangay Pugay, Baao, also yesterday.

Joemar Bernadez, 27; his brother John, 24, and  Warlito  Quiray, 33, said to be members of the NPA’s Southwest Front Committee were arrested in Barangay Talalk, Sta. Catalina in Negros Oriental.