PAGADIAN CITY—A communist guerrilla suspect was killed in a clash between government soldiers and New People’s Army (NPA) in the town of Dumingag, Zamboanga del Sur province on Monday (Sept. 21).
Lt. Col. Jo-ar Herrera, commander of the 53rd Infantry Battalion, said a platoon under his unit clashed with armed men believed to be from the main regional guerrilla unit of NPA’s Western Mindanao Party Committee.
After some 25 minutes of gunfight, Herrera said the guerrillas withdrew to the northeast, leaving behind a body in the site of the clash.
Herrera said the Army would turn over the body to the local government of Dumingag for possible coordination with the family of the slain guerrilla, whose identity has not been known.
Soldiers recovered in the clash site four firearms, a communist flag, wires and an improvised explosive device.