LEGAZPI CITY — At least four suspected members of the New People’s Army (NPA) were killed when a firefight broke out between Army soldiers and the rebels on Sunday morning in Matnog town in Sorsogon province.
Major Maria Luisa Calubaquib, Bicol police spokesperson, said clash started around 7:15 a.m and was still on-going in Barangay (village) Calpi as of Sunday noon.
Report said a platoon of Army soldiers chanced upon a 60-man NPA group led by Arnel Estiller, aka “Mando,” of the NPA Larangan 2 operating in Sorsogon.
Apart from the four still unidentified fatalities, government forces also found four high powered firearms, including an M203 rifle, the report said.
Police checkpoints were set up in strategic areas and police forces were on standby for possible reinforcement, Calubaquib said.