A RANKING leader of the New People’s Army in Bicol was killed in a gunfight with members of the Philippine National Police – Intelligence Group (PNP-IG) who was about to serve a warrant for his arrest in Sorsogon City.
Slain was Fernando Dialogo alias “Ka Karen/Jepoy/Enkar” tagged as a commanding officer of the Platoon 1/Sentro de Grabidad of the NPA’s Kilusang Larangang Guerilla 1 and a member of the CPP-NPA Bicol Regional Party Committee.
The suspect’s area of operation was in Sorgoson province and other parts of Bicol region.
The clash occurred in Bgy. Marinas in Sorsogon City around 7:30 a.m. last Saturday.
According to PNP-IG director Col. Romeo Macapaz, members of the Regional Intelligence Unit 5, the 503rd and 504th Mobile Force Companies of the Police Regional Office 5, the Gubat Municipal Police Station and the Army’s 31st Infantry Battalion went to Bgy. Marinas to serve several warrants of arrest against Dialogo when they met heavy resistance from the suspect and his comrades.
Recovered at the clash site were the suspect’s Colt M-16 automatic rifle, an ICOM radio with charger, a detonating switch, two Molotov cocktails, an ammo bandolier, a backpack containing assorted medical supplies and personal belongings, and three water containers.
The PNP-IG said that the slain suspect is the subject of warrants of arrest for violation of Republic Act 11479 or the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 issued by Judge Valentin Pura Jr. of the Naga City Regional Trial Court; a warrant of arrest for homicide issued by Judge Bernardo Jimenez of the Gubat, Sorsogon RTC; and a warrant of arrest for five counts of murder issued by Judge Maximino Ables of the Sorsogon City RTC.
“The slain suspect and his group are known for moving from one place to another to avoid government detection. However, the PNP-IG developed a case operation that started in 2021 to closely monitor the operations of the wanted armed rebels in the region with the help of informants,” the PNP-IG said.
