2 alleged NPA rebels slain, another captured in Compostela Valley clash

DAVAO CITY — Two suspected communist rebels were killed in a clash with government forces in an upland village in Mabini town, Compostela Valley on Thursday, a local Army spokesperson said.

A suspected rebel was also captured and several weapons and an improvised bomb seized following the firefight in Barangay Anitapan at 1:30 a.m., according to 1Lt Jhocell Asis, spokesperson of the 71st Infantry Battalion.

Asis said soldiers from the 71st IB conducted a combat operation after receiving reports from villagers that New People’s Army guerrillas were planning to gather to celebrate the rebels’ 50th anniversary on Friday at the vicinity of Anitapan when they chanced upon the armed men at Sitio Mangurayan.

A five-minute gun battle ensued that led to the death of three rebels whose bodies were recovered at the encounter site.

A soldier was wounded, Asis told the Inquirer by phone, adding the bodies of the slain rebels were turned over to village officials “for proper disposition.”

The captured NPA member was handed over to Mabini police for the filing of criminal charges, she said./lzb