Army volunteer killed in Zambales clash

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Philippines—A civilian volunteer of the military was killed while two soldiers were wounded on Monday when government troops clashed with communist rebels in Candelaria town in Zambales, military reports said.

The firefight that broke out on Monday morning in Barangay (village) Taposo in Candelaria killed Christopher Bonustro and wounded Privates First Class Antonio Alvarez, 34, and Oliver Limbag, 27, said Captain Jovily Carmel Cabading, information officer of the military’s Northern Luzon Command, in a report released at 4 p.m.

Bonustro was hit during the crossfire, Cabading said.

A report from Senior Superintendent Francisco Santiago Jr., Zambales police director, said Bonustro was a charcoal maker in the village.

Cabading said government forces caught up with the New People’s Army rebels in Sitio (settlement) Biew after receiving information from residents.

The Army’s 24th Infantry Battalion, the unit involved in the clash, recovered an M-14 rifle, bullets, documents and personal belongings from the clash site.