‘Female NPA’ killed in clash in Davao Occidental – military

DIGOS CITY, Davao del Sur – A suspected New People’s Army (NPA) rebel was killed during a clash between soldiers and communist rebels in Malita, Davao Occidental, on Wednesday, the military reported.

Lt. Col. Ronnie Babac, commander of the Army’s 73rd Infantry Battalion, said the body of the unidentified slain rebel, a woman, was recovered alongside an Armalite rifle following the hour-long clash in Sitio Tinungkaan in Barangay Danwata that started 5:30 a.m.

Babac said soldiers, led by 2Lt. Mark Francis Gatan, were on patrol when they encountered about 20 NPA rebels under a Commander Joey of Front Commitee 71.

No casualty on the government side was reported.  SFM