2 NPA rebels killed in Bicol clash

MANILA, Philippines—Two communist rebels were killed in an encounter with government soldiers in Bicol Tuesday morning, a military spokesman said.

Troops from the Army’s 2nd Infantry Battalion were on patrol when they received a report at 6:45 a.m. that New People’s  Army guerrillas were extorting from villagers in Brgy. Badbad in Oas town in Albay, Lieutenant Colonel Ramon Zagala said.

Two NPA rebels, identified only as alias Dennis, team leader of the group, and an alias Peter, were killed in a five-minute firefight, Zagala said.

Two M16 rifles, bandoleers, and personal belongings were seized from the rebels, he said.

The NPA guerrillas withdrew towards Mayag and Matara villages, also in Oas, Zagala said.

No casualties were reported on the military side.

“We want to settle this in a peaceful manner, however, the Army is mandated to safeguard the peace and protect the people from internal threat groups,” said Col Raul Farnacio, 901st Brigade Commander.

“We are reaching out to them to abandon the armed struggle and return to the mainstream of society and live a normal life like many of their comrades did. The AFP [Armed Forces of the Philippines] is sincere and the government will accept and help them,” he said.

The NPA, the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines, has been waging a Maoist rebellion for 44 years now.