Suspected NPA rebel killed in Sorsogon clash

LEGAZPI CITY — A suspected New People’s Army (NPA) rebel was killed in an encounter with government troops early Saturday in a remote village in Bulan town in Sorsogon province, a military report said.

Army Captain John Paul Belleza, 9th Infantry Division public affairs office chief, said Army troops were on combat patrol after receiving information from villagers that a group of armed men was sighted at the vicinity of Barangay San Juan at around 3:40 a.m.

Sorsogon police, in a separate report, said police officers and soldiers from the 22nd Infantry Batallion and 903rd Brigade of the Philippine Army encountered at least 14 NPA members led by a certain Cennon/Tikong of Larangan 2 of Komiteng Probinsya 3 during the patrol.

A firefight then erupted and lasted for 5 minutes.

The still-unidentified rebel was wounded in the encounter and died while being taken to the hospital by government troops.

Recovered in the clash site were a caliber 7.62 mm rifle and an M14 rifles.

Belleza said pursuit operations are still going on as soldiers are scouring the mountainous areas where the fleeing rebels have fled.

/MUF