A fighter of the New People’s Army (NPA) was killed in a clash with troops of the Philippine Army’s 62nd Infantry Battalion (IB) in the hinterlands of Negros Occidental’s Moises Padilla yesterday morning.

The fatality, identified as Jose “Jojo” Albores, belonged to the Central Negros Front 1 of the Leonardo Panaligan Command and was one of the leaders of the “kangaroo court” tasked to kill members tagged as government assets and civilians who refused to support the armed struggle.

At about 5:30 a.m. yesterday, a five-minute firefight ensued between the 62IB troops and five NPA fighters in Barangay Quintin Remo’s Sitio Lower Tiyos, resulting in the death of Albores.

The soldiers recovered a KG9 assault rifle, a hand grenade, subversive documents, and personal belongings during the clearing operation.

Albores’ body was endorsed by the troops of the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office.

In a statement, Lt. Colonel William Pesase, 62IB commanding officer, said his men would “tirelessly hunt the remaining NPA members who killed innocent and unarmed civilians in central Negros.”

“To the remaining NPA who are still running away, we know that you are tired and hungry, especially those who are wounded. Surrender now or be killed later,” he added.

The group of Albores is believed to be operating in the boundaries of the Negros Occidental towns of Moises Padilla, La Castellana and Isabela, and the Negros Oriental cities of Canlaon and Guihulngan. (PNA)