Soldier killed in Quezon blast

LUCENA CITY – An improvised explosive device (IED) blast killed a soldier while two suspected New People’s Army (NPA) rebels were captured in Quezon on Sunday, police said Monday.

The Quezon provincial identified the casualty as Private Kim Veluz of the Philippine Army’s 85th Infantry Battalion.

Police said Veluz was on his way to Lopez town aboard a motorcycle when an IED went off in Barangay (village) Sta. Rosa at around 4:30 p.m.

The soldier died on the spot.

Police investigators are eyeing the involvement of two NPA rebels.

Meantime in Mauban town, soldiers on patrol figured in a gun battle with around 10suspected NPA rebels at around 6:30a.m. in Barangay Cagsiay 2.

After the 15-minute clash, the rebels withdrew towards Barangay Abu-Abu also in the said coastal town.

During the follow-up operations, the soldiers recovered three magazines for short and long firearm of unknown caliber, one mobile phone with an active SIM card and an old jungle pack.

Police also reported that an 18-year-old woman, a suspected NPA rebel was taken into custody.

Last month, the Quezon provincial government declared the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and its armed wing, the NPA rebels as “persona non grata” in the province, once considered as a stronghold of Maoist-inspired guerrillas in Southern Tagalog./gsg