NPA rebel killed, 2 soldiers wounded in Bukidnon clash

A suspected member of the New People’s Army was killed and two soldiers were wounded in an armed encounter in Bukidnon on Tuesday, the military said.

Soldiers from the Army’s 1st Special Forces Battalion were conducting a security patrol in Barangay New Eden, Pangantucan town at around 9 a.m. when it chanced upon about 10 communist rebels believed to be members of the Guerilla Front 68 of the North Central Mindanao Regional Committee, Capt. Norman Tagros, spokesperson of 403rd Brigade, said in a statement.

“The 30-minute firefight ensued after more or less 10 terrorists opened fire to the troops conducting patrol, which resulted in the death of one of the terrorists, whose identity is yet to be determined,” Tagros said.

Two soldiers suffered minor casualties and were brought to a military hospital in Cagayan de Oro City.

The government forces also recovered one M-16 rifle with M203 grenade launcher, one M16 rifle, one M14 rifle, one barrel of an M60 machine gun, eight anti-personnel mines, one hand grenade and assorted live ammunition from the encounter site.