2 alleged rebels slain in Masbate clash, says Army

LEGAZPI CITY — Two suspected members of the New People’s Army (NPA) were killed in a clash with the government forces in Cawayan town in Masbate on Friday (Oct. 28) morning, authorities said.

Maj. John Paul Belleza, public affairs chief of the Philippine Army’s 9th Infantry Division, said the slain NPA rebels were still unnamed but one of them was a leader of Militiang Bayan while the other one was a member of a platoon in Kilusang Larangan Guerilla 2 of Komiteng Probinsiya 4 of the Bicol Regional Party Committee.

Belleza said the government forces figured in a firefight with the rebels while having a combat operation in Barangay Itom-bato at 6:10 a.m.

Recovered from the clash site were an M653 rifle, a caliber .38 revolver, two backpacks, a laptop, and other propaganda materials.

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