NPA rebel killed in Iloilo clash

ILOILO CITY, Philippines—A New People’s Amry (NPA) rebel was killed in a shootout with government troops in Miag-ao town in Iloilo Sunday morning.

The slain rebel, who remained unidentified, was left behind by his comrades along with an M-16 rifle, ammunition, landmines, personal belongings and rebel documents and flags after the 30-minute clash.

“This is a result of the intensive pursuit operations being undertaken by our soldiers after the series of clashes last week,” Lt. Col. Sisenando Magbalot, said commander of the Army’s 61st Infantry Battalion (61IB).

He said its troops encountered about 20 NPA rebels under the Southern Front Committee of the Communist Party of the Philippines on Panay Island around 4 a.m. in Barangay Alimodias in Miag-ao.

There were no casualties among the government troops.

This was the fourth skirmish between government troops and NPA rebels in Iloilo and Antique provinces in a week.