NPA killed, soldier wounded in Capiz clashes

MANILA, Philippines – A communist rebel was killed and a soldier was wounded in clashes between the New People’s Army guerrillas and government troops in Capiz on Tuesday, the military said.

Army’s 3rd Infantry Division spokesman Major Ray Tiongson said that troops from the Army’s 61st Infantry Battalion fought the insurgents in the villages of Nayawan and Tacayan in Tapaz town.

The soldiers were patrolling the villages when they encountered about 40 members of the NPA at 6:45 a.m. A firefight broke out and lasted for three hours.

At about 11: 45 a.m. on the same day, a 45-minute firefight erupted.

A guerrilla known only as Pastor, a resident of Lambunao, Iloilo, was killed in the skirmish.

On the military side, Private First Class Ricky Llorico was wounded. He was evacuated by a Huey helicopter and brought to hospital for treatment. He was already in stable condition, the military said.

Additional troops were sent for pursuit operations, Tiongson said.