4 alleged Red fighters slain in Occidental Mindoro clash
LUCENA CITY –– At least four alleged New People’s Army (NPA) members were killed in an encounter with Army soldiers in Rizal town in Occidental Mindoro Monday morning.
Captain Jayrald Ternio, head of the Army’s 2nd Infantry Division public information office, said in a statement that soldiers from the Army’s 203rd Infantry Brigade engaged a group of at least 20 Red fighters in Sitio (sub-village) Surong in Barangay Aguas around 6 a. m.
After the 30-minute gunfight, the soldiers reportedly recovered four dead bodies of communist guerrillas – one female and three males – who were left behind by their fleeing comrades. The soldiers also found eight high-powered firearms in the area.
No casualty was reported on the government side.
Ternio said villagers tipped them off about the presence of NPA rebels in the area.
Major General Greg Almerol, commander of the 2nd ID, extolled the bravery and cooperation of the villagers in the continuous war against insurgents.
“Your bravery fuels your soldiers’ commitment to finally end terrorism in our country. Together, we will surely bring down this barrier that prevents our nation from achieving peace and progress,” Almerol said.
