CPP confirms death of senior NPA member, 3 others in Agusan clash

SAN FRANCISCO, Agusan del Sur—The Communist Party of the Philippines–North Central Mindanao Region (CPP-NCMR) has acknowledged the death of a senior member in a firefight with government troops in Agusan del Sur.

The group identified the cadre as Julia Cagadas-Lastimosa, alias “Ka Rida.”

The fatality comes along with three other New People’s Army (NPA) members following an armed encounter with government forces in Barangay Bakingking, Esperanza last Saturday.

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The acknowledgment was contained in a statement released Tuesday by the CPP-NCMR and circulated through communist movement information channels.

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The statement identified the fatalities as Lastimosa; Rocha Mae Bihag, alias “Ka Maki;” Tiloy Basahon, alias “Ka Doydoy;” and Ringo Lindayo, alias “Ka Kikoy.”

The CPP-NCMR statement came after the Philippine Army’s 4th Infantry (Diamond) Division reported that four members of the communist armed group were killed during a clash in Barangay Bakingking.

The military identified Cagadas, also known as “Rheda,” as the secretary of the North Central Mindanao Regional Committee (NCMRC) and a key leader of the NPA in Northern Mindanao.

According to the 4th Infantry (Diamond) Division, the operation involved troops from the 403rd Infantry Brigade, including elements of the 1st Special Forces Battalion and 8th Infantry Battalion.

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The military said the encounters began early morning on September 12 after government troops received information on the presence of armed NPA members in Barangay Bakingking.

The first engagement reportedly occurred at around 5:30 a.m., when soldiers from the 1st Special Forces Battalion encountered members of the NPA’s Headquarters Force Neo of the NCMRC.

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A subsequent encounter took place at around 12:20 p.m., when troops from the 8th Infantry Battalion engaged the same group, followed by pursuit operations involving Special Forces elements.

The CPP-NCMR confirmed the identities of those killed, but it did not provide operational details of the encounter, including the circumstances leading to the clash or any reported casualties on the side of government forces.

In its statement, the group described Lastimosa as a long-time cadre who had been involved in the communist movement since the early 1980s.

The group also revealed that she was from Bugo, Cagayan de Oro City, and had previously worked as an organizer among youth, workers, urban poor communities and farmers before becoming a party cadre and NPA officer.

The CPP-NCMR also said Lastimosa operated under several aliases in parts of Misamis Oriental, Agusan del Norte and Bukidnon.

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The military, meanwhile, described her death as a significant loss to the NCMRC leadership structure. /apl