NPA rebel slain, firearms seized in Cagayan province clash

Cagayan province map

TUGUEGARAO CITY — An alleged New People’s Army (NPA) rebel was killed and three high-powered guns were seized in a clash Friday, March 17, with government soldiers in Gattaran, Cagayan province.

Army Major Rigor Pamittan, 5th Infantry Division public affairs chief and spokesperson, said soldiers found the still-unidentified male rebel after a gunfight between the 77th Infantry Battalion and the 20-member NPA belonging to the Cagayan-Isabela Provincial Committee.

After getting information about the rebels’ presence, the soldiers trooped to the Tanglangan village and were later backed by the 52nd Division Reconnaissance Company when a gunbattle lasting for an hour and 30 minutes, broke out.

The firefight ended when the rebels withdrew, leaving their dead comrade behind. The Army took the body to a local funeral parlor as they and the local police worked together to identify him.

Found at the clash site were a K3 Squad automatic rifle, an M-653 assault rifle, an R4 assault rifle, three rifle grenades, three improvised explosive devices, 14 blasting caps, two rolls of detonating cord, a detonator, 69 rounds of caliber 45 ammunition, 376 rounds of 5.56 mm ammunition, 150 rounds of Armalite link ammunition, three bandoliers and other personal items.

As of Saturday, March 18, pursuit operations continued.

VILLAMOR VISAYA JR. INQ

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