Alleged NPA rebel slain in Laguna clash

LUCENA CITY—An alleged New People’s Army (NPA) rebel was killed in a clash against government forces in Luisiana town in Laguna province Wednesday. Police Brigadier General Alex Rillera, commander of the Army’s 202nd Infantry Brigade, in a report on their Facebook page, said soldiers and policemen responded to information provided by concerned villagers on the presence of seven armed NPA rebels Barangay (village) De la Paz around 1:30 a.m. The 10-minute firefight left one still unidentified rebel dead. The government forces recovered one Garand rifle at the clash site. All government forces are placed on high alert to support the ongoing pursuit operations against the fleeing rebels. “May this development bring the few remaining rebels to peacefully surrender because we will never rejoice in the death of our fellowmen,” Rillera said. He added: “We have, however, a duty to protect our people from the harms of terrorism, and we shall see to it that we will emerge victorious in this near-ending war.”