Military: 5 rebels dead in Sorsogon clash

LEGAZPI CITY – The military in Bicol recorded three more suspected New People’s Army (NPA) members who were killed in an encounter with government forces in Bulan town in Sorsogon province Friday morning, bringing the death toll to five.

The five rebels died during a more than two-hour running gun battle with Army soldiers and police Special Action Force operatives in Barangay (village) Dolos at around 5:30 a.m., Captain John Paul Belleza, public affairs chief of Philippine Army’s 9th Infantry Division (9ID), said in an updated report.

No casualties were reported on the government side, Belleza said.

Earlier, Police Major Maria Luisa Calubaquib, Bicol police spokesperson, reported that the fierce fight led to the death of two rebels and the recovery of several assault rifles, and ammunition.

Belleza the state forces, during a follow-up operation at the clash site, discovered the bodies of the three slain rebels.

State forces also recovered three M16A1 rifles, three M16,  an M14 rifle, an M79 grenade launcher, an ultimax machine gun, caliber .45 and .38 pistols.