ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines
At least two members of a Philippine communist insurgent group were captured Sunday in southern Zamboanga del Sur province, authorities said.
Police Inspector Dahlan Samuddin, spokesman for the Region 9 Police Office, said that the New People's Army (NPA) rebels were arrested after a joint military and police force encountered them in Guipos town at around 2 p.m..
An approximately three-minute firefight ensued, with the rebels withdrawing in an unknown direction, according to Samuddin.
"A hot pursuit operation was conducted that resulted in the arrest or capture of local communist movement members," he added.
Police identified the captured NPA members as Guipos residents Wilfredo Dalumos Y Peluton – aka Nick or Tong-Tong - and his cohort Edgar Cadilanza Y Cogalito.
Troops recovered an Ingram M11 caliber 9mm machine pistol, a magazine, ammunition, a cellphone and a hand grenade from their possession.
Troops took the captured rebels to a provincial investigation office to file the appropriate charges.
Since March 1969, the NPA- the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines - has been waging one of Asia’s longest running insurgencies in the country, which - according to the military - has claimed more than 3,000 lives over the past eight years.
On Friday, government troops had killed a member of an al-Qaeda-linked militant group in the Muslim south’s Sulu province.
Brigadier General Martin Pinto, Chief of the 2nd Marine Brigade, said that an Abu Sayyaf rebel was killed when marines briefly clashed with gunmen in Patikul town at around 1:45 p.m.
Pinto added that an M16 rifle was recovered along with the deceased, who has yet to be identified.
Lieutenant General Rustico Guerrero, Chief of Western Mindanao Command, had said that government troops would not be ordered to hold back during Ramadan, the Muslim month of fasting that began Sunday.
He added, however, that care would be taken not to disrupt observance of the holy month.
"Troops will focus their manhunt and assaults on enemies away from Muslim communities observing Sunday's start of Ramadan," he said.
Captain Rowena Muyuela, the command’s spokesperson, had said earlier that operations to rescue Abu Sayyaf’s hostages would continue, and that fasting Muslim soldiers would be given lighter duties.
On June 19, seven soldiers were killed and 24 injured in a fierce firefight with the Abu Sayyaf in Patikul town.
The Abu Sayyaf has carried out bombings, kidnappings, beheadings and other violence to gain recognition as it vied for an independent Muslim state in Mindanao.
