4 NPA rebels killed in Quezon clash

LUCENA CITY, Philippines—Four New People’s Army rebels, one of them a woman, were killed in an encounter with Army soldiers in Lopez, Quezon, at noon Friday, an Army official said.

Colonel Eduardo Año, head of the Army’s 201st Infantry Brigade, said a group of soldiers were in Barangay Peñafrancia to verify the reported presence of armed men in the area when they engaged in a firefight an estimated 10  rebels at around 12:10 p.m.

He said the battle lasted for 30 minutes, after which the rebels retreated in different directions, leaving behind  a slain comrade  and three others who were critically wounded and died later

“The ambulance was already at the site to bring the wounded rebels to the hospital but they did not make it,” Año said over the phone.

He said the authorities had yet to identify the rebels.

Año said the soldiers recovered two M16 rifles and one baby armalite at the site of the encounter.

He said the government forces suffered no casualties.

Concerned villagers tipped off the military to the presence of the communist guerillas in the area, according to Año.