Suspected rebel killed in Abra clash

FORT RAMON MAGSAYSAY, NUEVA ECIJA — A suspected member of the New People’s Army (NPA) was killed in a Sunday morning clash with army soldiers in Sallapadan town in Abra province, according to the Philippine Army’s 7th Infantry Division (7ID) based here.

Soldiers of the 24th Infantry Battalion engaged ten armed men in a 28-minute exchange of fire in Barangay (village) Ud-udiao around 7:30 a.m., according to Major Gen. Felimon Santos, 7ID commander.

The soldiers were patrolling Sitio (subvillage) Mabongnot following reports of armed men who were foraging for food in the community, Santos said.

The armed men fired at the soldiers, triggering the firefight. The military recovered three M16 Armalite rifles and a two-way radio at the clash site.

The soldiers have yet to identify the slain suspect. No soldier was hurt in the encounter, said 1Lt. Catherine Hapin, 7ID information officer. /je