TACLOBAN CITY – A suspected member of the New People’s Army (NPA) was killed in an encounter with government troops in Kananga town, Leyte province on Friday, Nov.28.
The fatality was identified as Rochelle Mae Bacalso, 21, a new recruit of the rebels belonging to the Sub-Regional Committee Levox, Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), reports from the 802nd Infantry Brigade based at Camp Downes in Ormoc City said.
Soldiers brought her to a hospital in Kananga but was declared dead on arrival by the attending physicians .
The Bacalso suffered several gunshot wounds on the different parts of her body.
The government troops seized from the alleged rebels one Austrian-made Glock pistol, one bandoleer for M16 magazines, one magazine for M16 rifle with 29 pieces of caliber 5.56 ammunition, one backpack with personal belongings, one cellular phone, four hammocks, four poncho tents, and documents with high intelligence value.
Brigadier Gen. Zosimo Oliveros, commander of the 802 Infantry Brigade, reiterated calls for rebels to abandon their arm struggle and return to the folds of the law.