TACLOBAN CITY — A leader of the communist New People’s Army (NPA) and two subordinates were killed Monday in a clash with government troops in Barangay Pange, Jaro, Leyte.

Troops were scouring the area immediately after the encounter when they discovered the body of Fidel Lagado, also known by his aliases Ivan or Red. Lagado was identified as the squad leader of Squad 2, Platoon 1, Island Committee LEVOX of the CPP-NPA’s Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee. He was found with multiple gunshot wounds.

Government forces also found the bodies of two other members of the same squad: Rogelio Berino, alias Jun or Babay, and Maricel Anora, alias Gani, along with their firearms.

Lt. Col. Frank Celeste Sayson, commanding officer of the 93rd Infantry Battalion, said his troops were conducting a focused military operation in response to residents’ complaints about armed individuals coercing and intimidating communities in the area.

The communist rebels opened fire as soldiers approached, prompting the troops to retaliate.

Brig. Gen. Pompeyo Jason Almagro, commander of the 802nd Infantry (Peerless) Brigade, commended the troops for the successful combat operation, which he said decimated the NPA squad operating in the central Leyte highland.

Almagro extended his condolences to the families of the three rebels and appealed to remaining communist combatants to surrender and reunite with their families ahead of the Christmas season.