NPA leader, wife slain in Agusan del Sur clash

MANILA, Philippines — A ranking member of the New People’s Army (NPA) and his wife were killed in an encounter with soldiers belonging to the 67th Infantry Battalion (IB) in Barangay Sta. Maria in Trento, Agusan del Sur on Monday.

The military identified the fatality as Danny Huit, secretary of the Guerrilla Front (GF) North of the Southern Mindanao Regional Committee, and his wife Naneth Catalino, the group’s designated medic.

The Army said Huit had pending arrest warrants for frustrated murder, homicide, arson and rebellion.

Lt. Col. Louie Dema-Ala, 67th IB commander, said the timely reporting of civilians on the presence of NPA rebels in the area played a big role in the neutralization of the NPA officer and his wife.

“To the remaining members of GF North, we are encouraging you to abandon the twisted and violent ideology and peacefully surrender to avail yourselves of the programs of the government... for those who refuse to heed the government’s call to lay down their arms, the 67th IB will hunt you down until the last member is neutralized,” Dema-Ala said.

Col. Oliver Maquiling, 701st Infantry Brigade commander, lauded the efforts of the 67th IB to secure communities by running after communist insurgents.