According to Cagayan Police spokesperson Capt. Isabelita Gano, the gun battle began around 10:30 p.m. Friday in Virginia, Sto. Nio town, but the rebels’ bodies were discovered in Maguilling, Piat town.
Saturnino Lao Agunoy alias Peping, head of the Regional Organizing Department; Mark Canta alias Uno, of the Giyang Pampulitika/Kilusang Larangang Gerilya (GPKLG) West, Komprob Cagayan; and a certain Val, medical officer of the GPKLG, were identified as the slain suspected rebels.
Sto. Nio police said they were informed of the clash between the rebels and soldiers, prompting them to set up a “high-risk checkpoint” and check with hospitals to see if there were any casualties.
In an area between Virginia, Sto. Nio and Maguiling, Piat, Cagayan, the 17th Infantry Battalion, led by 2Lt. Josua Arpon, 501st Brigade operations chief, launched a combat operation and engaged with 15 communist rebels led by a certain Ferdinand Bautista alias Ka Edgar/Simoy.
Army Capt. Rigor Pamittan, spokesperson for the 5th Infantry Division, said Agunoy is wanted on 12 counts of qualified assault on an agent of a person in authority, each with a PHP120,000 bail bond; two counts of qualified assault with murder, no bail; arson with a PHP24,000 bail bond; murder with no bail; and rebellion with a PHP200,000 bail.
The remaining suspected rebels are said to have fled to the northwestern part of Cagayan.
Personnel from the Provincial Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Canine Unit, as well as Army soldiers, recovered two cal. 45 pistols, a hand grenade, a backpack containing a laptop and a mobile phone with charger; personal devices and medical supplies; and anti-government documents with “high intelligence value” from the encounter site.
The United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines have designated the Communist Party of the Philippines – NPA as a terrorist organization. ###