Family of top NPA leaders among 10 killed in Christmas clash, military says

Malaybalay City, Bukidnon (CNN Philippines, December 28) — A husband and wife team believed to be top regional leaders of the New People's Army (NPA), along with their daughter, were among the 10 killed during an encounter with the military in Malaybalay City, Bukidnon on Christmas Day.

LTCol Anthony Bacus, Commanding Officer of the 8th Infantry Battalion, identified the slain rebel leaders as Beverly Sunta and her husband Alfredo Banawan, as well as their daughter Chen-Chen Banawan, all from Sitio Trukat, Barangay Cawayan.

Bacus alleged that Sunta was the secretary general while Banawan was the deputy secretary of the so-called Sub-Regional Committee-2 (SRC2), Headquarters Loader and Regional Sentro De Gravidad (RSDG) Compaq, all of the North Central Mindanao Regional Committee.

The four other fatalities were identified as Penita Singaman, Bebot Solinay, Aurellio Gonsalez, and a certain Loue from Agusan province.

The military said it has yet to identify the three remaining bodies.

Recovered from the rebels were high-powered firearms, cell phones, syringes, medicines, ammunition, projectors, generators, and several documents.

MGen Jose Maria Cuerpo of the 4th Infantry Division described the Christmas Day operation as a major success amid the ongoing effort to rid the Malaybalay City hinterlands of rebels.

CNN Philippines is seeking confirmation from the Communist Party of the Philippines regarding the government's claim.

Bukidnon-based correspondent Melchor Velez contributed to this story.