Camp Saturnino A Dumiao, Bayombong, Bayombong — Government troops scored a blow against the Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) after the death of Rommel Bustamante Tucay, alias Ka lsaac/Sining/Lester, the Nueva Vizcaya Provincial Police Office said in a statement.
Tucay, 41 is a resident of San Jacinto, Pangasinan and known Secretary of KLG Siera Madre of the New People’s Army, the NVPPO said.
He was the subject of a law enforcement operation and service of warrant by joint elements of the Philippine National Police and Armed Forces of the Philippines that turned into a firefight early morning on March 13, 2021 in Sitio Gunot, Kimbutan, Dupax Del Sur, Nueva Vizcaya.
Report from the ground states that Tucay engaged the elements of 71st MICO, 73DRC, 84th IB Philippine Army and Dupax Del Sur Police Station tasked to serve the warrants of arrest issued against him.
He was charged with two counts of Murder with Multiple Frustrated Murder at RTC Br 91, Homicide at RTC Br 96 both in Baler, Aurora, and another case for Attempted Homicide at MTC Pantabangan, Nueva Ecija.
His cases in RTC Br 96 and MITC were bailable but no bail was recommended for the two counts of murder case in RTC Br 91 of same province, the police statement said.
Recovered from the scene by the PNP Crime Laboratory were one 9mm Beretta pistol with SN VM11051965, nine rounds of 9mm ammunition, one spent cartridge case for 9mm and two spent cartridges for caliber 5.56 rifle.
The said firearms are now the subject of firearms verification at FEO and will be subjected to a cross matching examination to determine if it was used in other crimes involving firearms.
PCol Ranser A Evasco, Provincial Director, NVPPO, said: “Every life to me is precious so this is an unfortunate incident. Tucay would have been better off if he had not resisted the operating troops. His actions bespeak his desire not to be governed by the Philippine government."