2 wanted NPAs killed in brief clash with soldiers in Sultan Kudarat

COTABATO CITY — Two members of the New People’s Army, wanted for arson, multiple murder and cattle theft, were killed by soldiers in an encounter in Barangay Salansang in Lebak, Sultan Kudarat on Thursday morning.

The encounter erupted when a group of NPA opened fire at the personnel of the Army’s 57th Infantry Battalion, dispatched to check on reports by municipal officials about their presence in a secluded area in Barangay Salansang.

Two NPA members, whom villagers identified as Alexander Blewas and Tanya Samson Sedaw, both wanted for more than 20 criminal cases in different courts in South Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat provinces, were killed in the ensuing gunfight that waned only after their companions scampered away when they ran out of ammunition, leaving them both behind.

Local officials said Blewas and Sedaw were both involved in the collection of monthly revolutionary tax from hapless ethnic Teduray and Manobo Dulangan families in tribal enclaves at the hinterland borders of Lebak, Kalamansig and Senator Ninoy Aquino towns in Sultan Kudarat and in Surallah and Lake Sebu in South Cotabato.

Lt. Col. Guillermo Mabute Jr. of the 57th IB and his superior, Brig. Gen. Michael Santos, commander of the 603rd Infantry Brigade, separately on Friday said that they are thankful to the local officials in Lebak and community leaders in Barangay Salansang for having promptly reported the presence of NPA gunmen in the area, enabling them to quickly launch a calibrated offensive that drove them away.

Soldiers found beside the slain NPAs an M16 assault rifle, a .45 caliber pistol and a bag full of components for improvised explosive devices.