LEGAZPI CITY—A suspected New People’s Army member was killed in an encounter Tuesday with government troops in Esperanza town in Masbate province.
Major Maria Luisa Calubaquib, the Bicol police spokesperson, said in a report that an undetermined number of suspected rebels fired upon troops of the Philippine Army, Masbate 2nd Provincial Mobile Force Company, and Esperanza police, who were on a combat operation around 5:30 a.m. in Barangay Magsaysay.
Calubaquib said the authorities retaliated and killed a still unidentified rebel.
Authorities recovered a KJ9 pistol with a magazine loaded with 10 bullets, a hand grenade, a grenade launcher, a bomb detonator, two magazines, and seven bullets for an M16 rifle, a bandolier, 20 spent shells for M16 Rifle, electric wire, and a back pack.
No one was injured on the government side.