March 29, 2024

BALBALAN, Kalinga – A New People’s Army couple was found dead in an encounter with the military on March 15 at Sitio Babacong, Gawaan, this municipality.
Authorities identified the couple as Rudy Daguitan alyas “Pinpin” who died at the encounter site and his party wife, Nora Miguel alyas “Gemay,” whose body was seen in an abandoned hut at Sitio Fukong, Barangay Gawa-an.
Daguitan was the political officer/political instructor of Komiteng Larangan Baggas of Ilocos Cordillera Regional Committee (KLG-ICRC) and had P2.3 million bounty for his capture while “Ka Gemay” was the medical officer of KLG Baggas. The couple had three children.
Daguitan, 58, reportedly joined the NPA movement after graduating with a degree in Commerce from a school in Bontoc, Mountain Province.  
Elements of the 50th Infantry Battalion were patrolling the mountain lair of the communist terrorist group at Sitio Babacong, Barangay Gawaan when they were fired upon by NPAs headed by one alyas Mio of Platoon Guevara, KLG-ICRC, resulting in a firefight, the 5th Infantry Division reported.
When the firefight subsided, the military entered the NPA camp and found the body of a rebel identified as “Ka Pinpin” who was abandoned by his companions. A long firearm was also recovered at the abandoned camp.   
In the subsequent  clearing  operations, the soldiers found Ka Gemay’s body in an abandoned hut  at Sitio Fukong, also in Barangay Gawa-an. With the help of civilians, 50th IB troopers brought down Ka Gemay’s body.
The couple’s remains were later brought to the house of one of Ka Pinpin’s relatives in Bulanao, Tabuk City for their wake and burial.  
Col. Santiago Enginco, 503rd IB commander, lauded his troops for the successful mission. “Malaking kawalan sa KLG Baggas ang pagkamatay ni alyas Pinpin. Mapipilay ang pag-iindoktrina at pagtuturo ng ideolohiyang komunismo sa kanilang mga kasapi at sa mga sumusuportang masa,” he said.
M/Gen. Laurence Mina, commander of the 5ID, said what happened to Ka Pinpin should serve as a lesson to the remnants of the CPP-NPA.
Mina called on the remaining NPA rebels to surrender and join main stream society. – Peter A. Balocnit