CAMP ELIAS ANGELES, Pili, Camarines Sur – A high ranking NPA bandit leader was killed in an encounter with government troops in Goa town, Camarines Sur yesterday night.
1st Lieutenant Dion Elliot, Company Commander of Charlie Company, 42nd Infantry Battalion said through phone call to Major Harold Cabunoc, Division Spokesman, that he went to verify the text message of a local resident regarding the collection of money by the bandits to ‘support their favored party list candidates’ during the barangay elections.
Reaching Lamon Village with nine (9) of his men, a 5-minute firefight erupted between the soldiers and the bandits led by Elmer Osila a.k.a. Ka Fredo, Secretary of Front Committee 75 of CPP NPA NDF at around 7:15pm (September 22, 2010). Osila was found dead with his caliber 45 pistol in the encounter site.
A 9mm Beretta pistol was also recovered near a blood-soaked jacket owned by one of the bandits. His companions fled with more casualties.
No one was injured among the soldiers who brought the dead bandit leader to Goa town proper to be claimed by relatives.
Osila gained notoriety after carrying out violent attacks against private contractors who implemented development projects in the area. He led the deadly ambush which claimed the lives of four (4) soldiers including 2nd Lieutenant Michael Logronio in July.
He also burned 2 Heavy equipment of Sunwest Corporation and killed two (2) militiamen on May 29, 2010.
The death of Osila was considered as a big blow on the NPA bandits in the Bicol Region.
Major General Ruperto Pabustan, Commander of the 9th Infantry Division has directed LtCol Ernesto Cruz, Commanding officer of the 42nd Infantry Battalion to pursue the remnants of Osila’s extortionist group.
Weather-weather lang yan. Well done, blue team.
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