2 rebels killed in Masbate firefight–military

NAGA CITY, Philippines – Two communist rebels were killed in a brief clash with government troops in San Pascual town on Burias Island, Masbate early Friday, a Philippine Army official said.

The two slain rebels, who were still unidentified, were among 15 suspected members of the New People’s Army involved in the 15-minute firefight that occurred in Sitio (sub-village) Kigarao, Barangay (village) Quintina at about 6:20 a.m., said Lieutenant Colonel Julian Pacatan, Army commander in Masbate.

The clash followed weeks of pursuit operations conducted by the 9th Infantry Battalion of the Army based in Milagros town, the military said.

Recovered at the scene of the firefight were one .30 caliber machine gun with ammunition, one M16 rifle, one M653 rifle, 21 improvised explosive devices and three .38 cal. revolvers.

Before the incident, authorities received an intelligence report saying that the NPA rebels that raided the police station of Mobo, Masbate and subsequently launched landmine attacks against responding government troops had re-organized in Burias Island, located 111 kilometers from Masbate City.