NPA guerrilla slain, Army soldier wounded in Sultan Kudarat clash

COTABATO CITA — A communist rebel was killed while a soldier was wounded in a clash in Palembang town of Sultan Kudarat province on Sunday, July 26, the military said.

Brigadier General Wilbur Mamawag, commander of the Army’s 603rd Infantry Brigade, said the government troops were on combat patrol in Mt. Payong-Payong in Barangay Baluan of Palimbang when they encountered some 20 New People’s Army (NPA) guerrillas.

An encounter broke out at 5:55 a.m. that led to the death of a communist fighter and the wounding of a soldier, Mamawag added.

After the gunfight, government troops recovered the body of the still unidentified rebel with his M16 assault rifle, a bandolier, and six magazines of ammunition.

Major General Diosdado Carreon, commander of Joint Task Force Central Command, said pursuit operations were ongoing for the fleeing rebels.

LZB