TWO suspected members of the New People’s Army (NPA) on Sunday were killed in a clash with policemen out to search their house in Capalonga, Camarines Norte for illegal possession of firearms and explosives, Police Regional Office 5 (PRO5) director, Brigadier General Jonnel C. Estomo said yesterday.

The Bicol police director identified the slain suspects as Noeme Marca and his wife Lourdes, both identified as NPA recruiters in Bicol residing in Purok 2, Barangay San Antonio in Capalonga municipality.

Estomo said members of the PRO5, backed up by soldiers from the Army’s 96th Infantry Battalion raided the couple’s residence on the strength of a search warrant for violation of Republic Act 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulations Act of 2013 and RA 9516 or illegal possession of explosives.

The warrant was issued by Judge Ariel Dating of the Daet, Camarines Norte Regional Trial Court Branch 41 last April 21.

Estomo said officers were approaching their target house when they came under heavy fire from around 10 heavily-armed NPA gunmen. One member of the Capalonga Municipal Police Station was hit by the initial volley of the rebel fire but was luckily saved by his bulletproof vest.

The official said the security troops retaliated and engaged the suspects in a shootout which lasted for around 15 minutes killing the couple. The rest of the gunmen managed to flee and are still being hunted, he said.

Estomo said recovered at the scene of the gunfight were a .45 caliber pistol with a magazine containing several live ammunition, a .38 caliber revolver with two bullets, five blasting caps, detonation cord, timer and two TNT explosives.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Alfred P. Dalizon