GOVERNMENT forces shot dead 13 suspected New People’s Army rebels in separate encounters in Cagayan and Nueva Ecija Thursday night and yesterday.

Philippine National Police chief Director General Raul M. Bacalzo described it as a “serious operational setback” to the leftist movement.

He also ordered   stepped-up security patrols  and intelligence-gathering nationwide to preempt  retaliatory attacks by the rebels, particularly at lightly-guarded police stations and other government and private facilities.

Yesterday’s clash took place at Sitio Bulod in Barangay Poblacion West, Rizal, Nueva Ecija where eight rebels were killed in a firefight with members of the Nueva Ecija Police Provincial Office and the Army 702nd Infantry Brigade, Police Regional Office 3 director Chief Supt. Edgardo Ladao said.

Senior Supt. Roberto L. Aliggayu, provincial police chief, identified three of the slain rebels as Ka Cesar, Ka Gerry and Ka Ricky.

He said the rebels were members of the Hukbong Mapagpalaya ng Bayan operating in Nueva Ecija and Pampanga involved in robbery and extortion activities.

Seven short firearms, assorted ammunition, two grenades and two cars were recovered at the scene of the gunbattle.

In Cagayan, five leftist gunmen, including a wanted rebel leader, were killed and four others were captured in a clash with police commandos Thursday night, PRO2 director Chief Supt. Francisco Jose Villaroman said.

Villaroman said the guerrillas were believed to be involved in the ambush-slaying of a police official in Cagayan early this year and were also linked to the killing of five policemen, including the chief of Rizal municipal police in Cagayan last March.

Police are tracking down wounded insurgents who may have sought treatment in private hospitals and clinics in the province.           Villaroman said troops from the Cagayan Police Provincial Office headed by Senior Supt. Mao-Aplasca, Jr. engaged a group of rebels led by Jose Asco alias “Baylon” in a running gunbattle in the boundaries of Barangay Lakambini in Tuao municipality and Sitio Talinganay in Barangay Sto. Domingo, Piat, Cagayan.

Asco and his four comrades were killed in the encounter while four others were captured, three of whom were wounded.

The wounded suspects were Laizel Gregorio, 34, of Makati City; M-Jay Magtanggol, 24, of Sta. Mesa, Manila;  and Dave Soriano, 21, Sto. Niño, Cagayan. They are now undergoing treatment in a local hospital under heavy guard.

Villaroman said another arrested female suspect refused to reveal her true identity.

Two officers identified as PO2s Danilo Belnas and Charles Urmanita were wounded in the clash but were declared in stable condition at a hospital in Cagayan.

Bacalzo commended the Cagayan PNP’s Regional Public Safety Battalion led by Supt. Madzgani Mukaram, the PRO2 Regional Intelligence Division under Senior Supt. Teodoro Basa and Supt. Alexander Rafael for their feat.  With reports from Steve Gosuico