Baybay city: A ranking New People's Army (NPA) leader was killed in a brief armed encounter with government troops in the hinterlands of Barangay Caridad, Baybay City, Leyte, late Tuesday, the Philippine Army has reported.
According to Philippines News Agency, the individual killed was Erwin Murillo Maceda, alias 'Romnick.' He was identified by the Army as vice team leader 1 of the island committee under the NPA's Eastern Visayas regional party committee and was a native of Las Navas, Northern Samar. Soldiers recovered an M16 rifle from the encounter site, as confirmed by the Army's 802nd Infantry Brigade.
The encounter unfolded after troops acted on information from a concerned resident regarding the presence of armed individuals allegedly collecting money and food from residents in the area. As the military moved to verify the report and secure the community, a five-minute firefight ensued.
Brig. Gen. Pompeyo Jason Almagro, commander of the Army's 802nd Infantry Brigade, stated that Maceda and his group had been linked to extortion, threats against residents and business owners, and attacks on government security installations in Leyte. Almagro emphasized the years of fear and disruption caused by such armed groups and asserted the military's commitment to preventing a return to those conditions.
He highlighted the critical role of community cooperation, stating that timely reporting by residents allows government forces to act before threats can escalate. Almagro encouraged the community to continue safeguarding the peace they have helped achieve, stressing the importance of maintaining vigilance.
The Army's 8th Infantry Division also urged remaining NPA members to abandon armed struggle and take advantage of government surrender and reintegration programs designed to assist former combatants returning to civilian life. The military called on communities in areas with stable peace and security to remain alert and report any suspicious activities to authorities to prevent the reestablishment of armed group presence.
