3 suspected NPA men killed in clash with gov’t troops in Davao Sur

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GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Philippines—Three suspected New People’s Army (NPA) rebels were killed in an encounter with government soldiers in Jose Abad Santos town in Davao del Sur on Saturday.

Lieutenant Colonel Adolfo Espuelas, chief of the 73rd Infantry Battalion, identified the slain communist rebels only as Marvin, Bobong and Berting.

Espuelas claimed the three were members of the Sentro de Grabidad Andoy, Guerilla Front 71 of the NPA operating in the hinterland boundary of Sarangani province and Davao del Sur.

Espuelas bared that Marvin and Bobong were both squad leaders of SDG Andoy.

Army troopers recovered from the victims two M-14 and one M-16 assault rifles, a handheld radio and several ammunition.

The military official added that the encounter took place around 7 a.m. Saturday, after tribal residents in the area reported to the government soldiers the presence of the NPA guerrillas.

“The encounter lasted for about two hours before the enemies withdrew leaving behind the cadavers of their three slain colleagues,” Espuelas said.

The remains of the three slain rebels were airlifted by the military choppers from the encounter site to General Santos City.