NPA slain in clash with Army in North Cotabato

COTABATO CITY – A New Peoples’ Army (NPA) rebel was killed while a soldier was injured in a brief encounter in the mountains of Magpet, North Cotabato on Sunday, the Army here said Monday.

Lt. Colonel Erhjlich Noel Paraso, the commander of the 19th Infantry Battalion based in Kidapawan City, said soldiers were patrolling Sitio Calu-Calu, Barangay Bagumbayan, Magpet, North Cotabato around 9 a.m. when they were fired upon by undetermined number of armed men.

A 30-minute firefight ensued until the rebels fled deep into the forest. Barangay Bagumbayan is situated at the slope of the country’s highest peak – Mt. Apo.

The remains of the slain NPA rebel had been turned over to the local government unit.

A soldier was slightly injured in the firefight but was now out of danger.

Paraso said the operating troops found three rifles in the rebels’ lair, including an M-16 with M-203 grenade launcher and several ammunition, as well as communist paraphernalia. /kga