NPA rebels attack Agusan Army patrol base

DAVAO CITY, Philippines—Around 50 communist New People’s Army guerrillas attacked an Army patrol base in Barangay San Antonio in Remedios T. Romualdez town in Agusan del Norte at 4:30 a.m. Tuesday, killing a member of the Civilian Auxiliary Force Geographical Unit and wounding two other persons.

One rebel apparently died in the ensuing firefight.

Colonel Leopoldo Galon, spokesperson of the Eastern Mindanao Command, said killed in a five-hour firefight was militiaman Christopher Rar while Cpl.  Murphy Haiber and barangay council member Dionisio Calbo were wounded.

Galon said the rebels left behind the body of an unidentified slain comrade when they withdrew after the firefight.

Recovered from the scene were two M16 rifles and an M203 grenade launcher, a rifle grenade,  500 meters of detonating cord and ammunition.

Galon said the patrol base in Barangay San Antonio was under the 23rd Infantry Battalion of the 4th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army.