LEGAZPI CITY — Three suspected New People’s Army (NPA) members, one of them an alleged rebel leader, were killed in an encounter on Monday morning (May 2) in Pioduran town in Albay province, a report from the Philippine Army (PA) in Bicol said.
Major John Paul Belleza, 9th Infantry Division public affairs office chief, said soldiers were on combat patrol when a seven-man rebel group was sighted at around 3 a.m. at the boundary of Barangay (village) Buenavista in Pioduran and Barangay Sta. Cruz of Donsol town in Sorsogon province.
The encounter led to a 10-minute running gun battle where three rebels were slain including their leader whose identity was only known as “Ka Bong.”
Recovered from the battle scene were two M16 assault rifles, a .45 caliber handgun, and personal belongings.
The bodies of the slain rebels were taken to the Pioduran police station for identification and disposition.
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