Alleged NPA rebel killed in Davao clash

DAVAO CITY — An alleged leader of the communist New People’s Army (NPA) was killed in a firefight with government troops in a hinterland village here on Sunday, the military said Monday.

Viva Albert Abenua, alias Ivy, died following a 30-minute gunbattle with soldiers in Barangay Baracatan, Toril district, according to Capt. Jerry Lamosao, 10th Infantry Division public affairs officer.

Lamosao said soldiers of the Army’s 3rd Infantry Battalion were on combat patrol when they clashed with a group of rebels at 10:45 a.m., leading to the death of Abenua, 37, a resident of Agusan del Sur and alleged commanding officer of the NPA’s Pulang Bagani Company (PBC) 3.

No soldier was hurt in the incident, Lamosao said.

Aside from the slain rebel leader’s body, soldiers also recovered at the site of encounter an M16 rifle, an AK-47 rifle, eight magazines loaded with bullets for the two rifles, four detonator switches, medical equipment, medicines, and various personal documents. /ee