Politics · Philippines Bureau
Communist Party confirms death of senior NPA cadre in Agusan clash
The Communist Party of the Philippines–North Central Mindanao Region has acknowledged the loss of a veteran member in an armed engagement with government forces in Agusan del Sur. Three additional NPA fighters were also killed in the confrontation.
LSN Philippines ·
SAN FRANCISCO, Agusan del Sur — The Communist Party of the Philippines–North Central Mindanao Region (CPP-NCMR) confirmed Wednesday that a senior cadre died in a firefight with state military units in Agusan del Sur. The party identified the casualty as Julia Cagadas-Lastimosa, known by the alias "Ka Rida," describing her as a long-standing member of the New People's Army.
The engagement resulted in the deaths of four armed group members in total, according to the CPP-NCMR statement. The armed confrontation marks the latest casualty in the decades-long insurgency campaign in Mindanao.
The acknowledgment by the communist party comes as security forces continue operations against NPA units across the region. Government troops have intensified counter-insurgency efforts in several provinces, with clashes between state military personnel and rebel combatants continuing to occur in remote areas.
The NPA, the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines, has maintained an active presence in parts of Mindanao despite sustained military pressure. The group has conducted intermittent armed activities in provinces including Agusan del Sur for several decades.