NPA rebel slain in clash with soldiers in Sultan Kudarat town

CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao del Norte – A communist rebel was killed while two assault rifles were recovered following a clash with government troops in Kalamansig town, Sultan Kudarat province on Thursday afternoon.

Lt. Colonel John Paul Baldomar, commander of the Army’s 37th Infantry Battalion, said his troops engaged with about 20 New People’s Army (NPA) guerillas in Barangay Limulan at about 3 p.m. on Thursday.

As the firefight raged for some 20 minutes, Baldomar said the rebels were also fleeing, leaving behind their dead comrade.

“There was no casualty on the government side,” Baldomar added.

Brig. Gen. Michael Santos, 603rd Infantry Brigade commander, lauded the soldiers for their “relentless campaign against those who still fight a lost cause using violence.”

Santos said two M-14 rifles were found after the firefight.

“We continue to hunt the remaining NPAs in the mountains of Kalamansig,” Santos said.

Maj. Gen. Alex Rillera, 6th Infantry Division commander, appealed to the remaining guerillas to return to the folds of the law and avail of the opportunity to return to mainstream society peacefully.

To date, the 6th ID said it has “neutralized” about 40 communist rebels since January this year, of whom five were arrested, 11 killed and 24 voluntarily surrendered.

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JPV