NPA rebel killed in clash with gov’t troops

TAGUM CITY—A suspected communist rebel was killed in a clash with government troops in a hinterland village in Davao City on Sunday, police and military officials said.

Pursuit operations have continued against an undetermined number of New People’s Army (NPA) guerrillas who fled after a firefight with soldiers at the foot of Mt. Apo in Toril district, said Col. Ricardo Nepomuceno, commander of the Army’s 1003rd Infantry Brigade based in Davao del Norte province.

The fighting erupted after soldiers from the Army’s 84th Infantry Battalion encountered a group of rebels from the NPA’s Guerrilla Front 54 led by Roberto Rosete alias “Ka (Comrade) Bobby” in Sitio Upper Immaculate, Barangay Tagurano, around 2:50 p.m., said Chief Insp. Milgrace Driz, Davao City police spokesperson.

“These rebels were responsible for the recent burning of several pieces of heavy equipment and the abduction of 11 civilians there,” Nepomuceno told the Inquirer by mobile phone.

Aside from the body of the slain rebel, Nepomuceno said troops also recovered at the scene of encounter an M-16 assault rifle and 13 backpacks. No one from the government troops was wounded, he said. Frinston L. Lim, Inquirer Mindanao