TUGUEGARAO CITY, Philippines- Two alleged leaders of the communist guerrilla were killed in a shootout with joint forces of police and military in Tarlac province on Wednesday, January 24.
In a press release, Philippine Army’s 5th Infantry Division information officer Captain Jefferson Somera identified the suspects as Victorio Tesorio and Lolita Raza.
Tesorio, who the Army said is also known as Dong, Rico, Dado, Metro, Ikoy and Reto, is the deputy secretary and commanding officer of the Regional Operations Command of the Northeast Luzon Regional Command (NLRC) of the New People’s Army.
Raza, meanwhile, is the Commanding Officer of the Danilo Ben Command of the Western Command of NLRC.
Somera said the two alleged rebels were killed when they started a gunfight with the arresting officers of the 5th ID, 7th ID, Philippine National Police and other military units.
Tesorio and Raza were reportedly went into hiding in Barangay San Miguel in San Manuel, Tarlac after the government launched its intensified crackdown against NPA. They were facing charges for multiple murders, frustrated murders, attempted murder, and rebellion
Recovered from the suspects were two .45 caliber guns and “subversive” documents. The caretaker of the hideout, named as Jose Dallente Caroy, was also arrested.
Meanwhile, newly-installed commanding general of the 5th ID Brigadier General Perfecto Rimando Jr said the death of the two NPA leaders will weaken the force of the rebels in North Luzon.
The notorious rebel group had admitted to staging attacks in Cagayan Valley region, including the ambush that killed 8 members of the elite police force in Cagayan in 2013. Northernforum.net
