3 soldiers killed, 2 others wounded in NPA clash in Mountain Province

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO — Three soldiers were killed while two others were wounded in a three-hour clash between government troops and New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in Besao town in Mountain Province on Sunday.

Lt. Col. Isagani Nato, public information chief of the Armed Forces’ Northern Luzon Command (Nolcom) based in Tarlac City, said around 15 communist rebels engaged the soldiers of the Army’s 81st Infantry Battalion inSitio Dandanac in Barangay Tamboan.

The army did not name the fatalities and the injured soldiers but said the firefight ended at 6 p.m.

The incident happened after an encounter in the same area on Saturday, according to a Nolcom report.

Also on Saturday in Abra town, the Army’s 24th Infantry Battalion discovered an NPA camp in Barangay Danac in West Boliney. A gun battle ensued in Barangay Ud-Udiao in Sallapadan town. /ee