SECURITY forces shot dead 13 suspected New People’s Army guerrillas in two separate encounters in Cagayan and Nueva Ecija Thursday night and early yesterday morning in what Philippine National Police chief, Director General Raul M. Bacalzo described as a “serious operational setback” to the leftist movement.

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

So far this year, police have foiled two NPA plots to raid and burn the police stations of Panabo City in Davao del Norte and in Lianga, Surigao del Sur inflicting heavy casualties on the raiders.

In Sitio Bulod, Bgy. Poblacion West, Rizal, Nueva Ecija, eight suspected NPA rebels were killed yesterday in a firefight with members of the Nueva Ecija Police Provincial Office and the Army’s 702nd Infantry Brigade, Police Regional Office 3 director Chief Supt. Edgardo Ladao said.

Ladao said seven short firearms, assorted ammunition, two grenades and two cars were recovered at the scene at 9 a.m.

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 Station in Cagayan last March.

As of press time, pursuit operations were still underway to intercept the fleeing rebels. Police are also tracking down wounded rebels 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 large group of rebels led by Jose Asco alias Baylon in a running gunbattle along the boundaries of Bgy. Lakambini, Tuao town and Sitio Talinganay in Bgy. Sto. Domingo, Piat, Cagayan at 3:30 p.m. Thursday.

As the running gunbattle was in progress, troops from the PNP Special Action Force and the Army formed blocking positions along possible escape routes while nearby police stations where alerted to establish checkpoints.

According to Villaroman, Asco and four other still unidentified NPA insurgents were killed  while four others were captured, three of whom were wounded. They were Laizel Gregorio alias Hazel/Joy, 34, of Makati City; M-Jay Magtanggol,24, of Sta. Mesa, Manila; and Dave Soriano,21, a resident of Bgy. Centro, Sto. Niño, Cagayan. All three are now undergoing medical treatment for battle wounds at a local hospital under heavy guard.