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CAMP MELCHOR DELA CRUZ, Isabela — An alleged New People’s Army (NPA) rebel was killed in an encounter between the communist guerrillas and government soldiers in the mountains of Lacub, Abra on Friday morning (October 13), the military said Saturday (October 14).
Major Rigor Pamittan, spokesperson of the Army’s 5th Infantry Division, said in an interview that the still unidentified suspected male communist rebel belonged to the Kilusang Larangang Gerilya-Abra (KLG-Abra).
He was caught in a clash between the 77th Infantry Battalion’s Alpha Company soldiers and a five-member NPA group at about 8 a.m., Pamittan added.
The firefight lasted for about five minutes and the rebels later withdrew to various unknown paths.
An M-16 Armalite rifle was also found at the clash site.
Clearing operations have been ongoing while checkpoints were put up for possible blockade of the rebels, Pamittan added.