Soldier killed in clash with suspected NPAs in Capiz

ILOILO CITY, Iloilo—A soldier died in a clash between government troops and suspected New People’s Army rebels in Capiz early Tuesday.

Cpl. Ricky Bill Farinas of the Army’s 61st Infantry Battalion died in the clash around 3 a.m. in Barangay (village) Tacayan in Tapaz town.

Farinas died from wounds from a blast believed to be from an improvised explosive device, according to an initial report of the Police Regional Office 6.

Tapaz is among the traditional hotbeds of the communist insurgency on Panay Island.

The clash followed skirmishes between soldiers and rebels in Tubungan and Lambunao towns in Iloilo and San Remigio town in Antique since last week after the government and rebels lifted their unilateral ceasefires.

Peace advocates have called on President Rodrigo Duterte and the rebels to continue the peace negotiations following his declaration ending the formal talks which resumed in August last year./rga

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