LUCENA CITY — Two alleged New People’s Army (NPA) members were killed in an encounter on Monday, April 18, with Army soldiers in General Nakar town in Quezon province, police said Tuesday.
The Quezon police said patrolling soldiers led by Staff Sergeant Isagani Bergonio from the Army’s 80th Infantry Battalion, encountered at 3:50 p.m. an undetermined number of armed communist guerrillas in the village of Umiray in the Sierra Madre mountain ranges.
The rebels withdrew but were intercepted in another part of the village by another team of soldiers led by Army First Leuitenant Ronyl Duka.
An exchange of gunfire ensued after which the rebels withdrew, leaving behind the body of their two slain comrades. Police did not provide details on the dead rebels.
The soldiers reportedly recovered one M14 rifle, one M16 rifle, one M203 grenade launcher and two backpacks.
Troops have been deployed to pursue the rebels.
On Sunday, Army soldiers and a band of suspected NPA rebels also clashed in neighboring Real town.
The battle lasted for 10 minutes, after which the rebels withdrew.
No casualty was reported on the government side, but there were undetermined on the NPA side, the report said.
The report did not provide information if the fleeing rebels in Real encounter were also the band of the communist guerrillas in General Nakar clash.
RELATED STORY: