MANILA — A high-ranking member of the communist New People’s Army (NPA) and two others were killed in an encounter with the military in Batangas Tuesday. 

According to the Philippine Army, military troops were conducting operations at Barangay Leviste in Rosario town when they encountered an undetermined number of gunmen allegedly led by Junalice Arante-Isita alyas Arya, from the Southern Tagalog Regional Party Committee.

Isita and two others, Bernardo Bagaas alias John Paul, and Erickson Bedonia, alias Ricky, were killed in the 30-minute firefight.

Authorities also recovered several high-powered firearms, 6 jungle packs, and a wire for improvised explosive devices (IED).

Isita has a standing warrant of arrest for violating Republic Act 11479 or the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020. She was the wife of Isagani Isita alias Yano, who died on July 30, 2023 in Quezon.

The neutralization of Isita is “a substantial blow to the NPA’s leadership and their reorganization effort in Batangas province,” the military added.