INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
LEGAZPI CITY — A suspected New People’s Army (NPA) rebel was killed on Monday, Nov. 28, in an encounter with government forces in Placer town in Masbate province.
The Masbate police said in a report Tuesday that while conducting a combat operation around 5:45 a.m., the troops clashed with 10 NPA rebels in Barangay Guinhan-ayan.
An unidentified rebel was killed in the 15-minute firefight while no one was hurt on the government side.
Recovered was an M16 rifle from the slain rebel; eight steel magazines; an improvised explosive device; a .45 pistol; ammunition; two hammocks; and propaganda materials at the encounter site.
Meanwhile, during the hot pursuit operation, Rolly Aballe, 23, was arrested for possessing a .38 revolver with five bullets while roaming at 3:45 p.m. in Barangay Matagangtang, adjacent to the encounter site.
Police Lieutenant Colonel Maria Luisa Calubaquib, Bicol police spokesperson, said authorities also recovered two cellular phones from Aballe, where they found text conversations regarding government troop movement.
Aballe was brought to the police station for proper disposition while the investigation was ongoing.
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