Rebel slain in clash with gov’t troops in Northern Samar

TACLOBAN CITY – An alleged communist rebel was killed in an encounter Monday with government troops in a remote village of Silvino Lubos in Northern Samar.

Captain Valben Almirante, the spokesperson of the 803rd Infantry Brigade based in Catarman, Northern Samar, said the soldiers were conducting security operations at past 1:45 p.m. in a forested area of Barangay Deit de Turag when they encountered an undetermined number of rebels.

A 20-minute firefight ensued that led to the death of one alleged rebel.

The government troops recovered an M-16 rifle and a short magazine with 10 ammunition in the area.

The rebels scampered in different directions, leaving behind one of their members.

Almirante said the still-unidentified rebel was buried at the public cemetery in Silvino Lubos, one of the interior municipalities of the province.

He added that the rebels who engaged the government troops belong to the Front Committee 1, Sub Regional Committee “Emporium” of the Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee under Acer Torsido, also known as RR.

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