THE death of a suspected member of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Negros Oriental will serve as an eye-opener to the remaining NPA troops to surrender to the folds of the law, a ranking official said Saturday. Philippine Army (PA) 3rd Infantry Division (3ID) commander Maj. Gen. Benedict Arevalo’s statement comes in the wake of the demise of Cristanto Estrabela Lagradilla, alias Locsin, a member of Squad 2, South East Front (SEF) in Sitio Tamusi, Barangay Talalak, Negros Oriental on Friday. Arevalo said government troops were conducting combat operations in response to the information given by the locals on the presence of NPA in the area. A firefight ensued between the troops of the 11th Infantry Lapulapu Battalion of the 3ID, PA, and more or less five members of SEF, Komiteng Rehiyon-Negros, Cebu, Bohol, Siquijor, that lasted for eight minutes. Seized from the encounter site was a KG9 rifle, a KG9 magazine with 20 rounds of ammunition, an M16 magazine with eight rounds of ammunition, a cal. .45 magazine with three rounds of ammunition, a bandolier, two-way radios, a backpack and NPA subversive documents. “With the cooperation of the communities and the collaborative efforts of other government agencies, we are positive that we can sustain the peace and development in this part of the region,” Arevalo told the media Saturday. The Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines.