TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan, Philippines — Two New People’s Army (NPA) leaders were killed in an alleged shootout with police officers in Tarlac on Wednesday.
Lolito Rasa, alleged leader of the Danilo Ben Command, and Victorio Tesorio, deputy secretary of the Regional Operation Command in Cagayan Valley, shot it out with police operatives who served warrants of arrest at their safehouse owned by a certain Jose Dallente in Barangay San Miguel, San Manuel, Chief Superintendent Luis Ventura, Tarlac police intelligence chief, said yesterday.
The NPA leaders have been charged with murder, multiple murder, frustrated murder, attempted murder and violation of the Anti-Terrorism Act in connection with the killing of eight policemen in Cagayan in 2013.
Ventura said two caliber .45 pistols and two hand grenades were recovered from the rebels.
Police also arrested Dallente, who is facing charges for harboring criminals.
The Danilo Ben Command was also tagged in the killing of Chief Inspector Antonio Rueco, the police chief of Rizal, Cagayan, and his wife Senior Police Officer 2 Mary Ann in 2011.