2 alleged NPA rebels dead in Oriental Mindoro clash

New People’s Army. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

LUCENA CITY – Two alleged New People’s Army (NPA) rebels were killed in an encounter with Army soldiers in Mansalay town in Oriental Mindoro province early Thursday, the military said

Lt. Felise Vida Solano, public information officer of the military’s Southern Luzon Command, said in a report that the clash happened in Barangay (village) Teresita around 4:30 a.m.

The report said soldiers from the Army’s 4th Infantry Battalion engaged heavily armed rebels in a fierce battle that left two still unidentified Red fighters dead.

Aside from the remains of the slain rebels, soldiers also recovered one M16 rifle and three backpacks left behind by the NPA members who fled.

The soldiers learned of the NPA presence in the village from reports of concerned citizens, Solano said. Delfin T. Mallari Jr./lzb