LEGAZPI CITY –– Three suspected New People’s Army (NPA) rebels were killed in an encounter on Monday morning with government troops in a village in Mandaon town in Masbate province.
Police Major Maria Luisa Calubaquib, Bicol police spokesperson, said police and Army soldiers, about to serve a warrant of arrest issued against Roel Vargas, Eddie/Arnold Rosero, and Jomar Tugbo, who are wanted for murder charges, encountered a 20-man NPA group led by Rosero in Barangay Alas, at 5:13 a.m.
A 15-minute firefight ensued in which the three still unidentified rebels died. Seized from the scene were a Garand rifle, Carbine, two shotguns, a box containing assorted explosives components, one-fourth block C4 explosive, and an improvised explosive device.
The bodies of the slain rebels were in police custody as their identities are yet to be determined, Calubaquib said.
Meanwhile, at 7:20 a.m., police manning a checkpoint in Barangay Dayao, Mandaon arrested Ronald Azucena while in possession of a .22 caliber handgun loaded with six bullets.