Militiaman hurt in clash with rebels in Camarines Sur

LUCENA CITY – A still unknown government militiaman was slightly wounded in an encounter between government forces and a band of suspected New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in Goa town in Camarines Sur province on Tuesday, a military spokesman said.

Major Virgilio Perez Jr., public information officer of the military’s Southern Luzon Command (Solcom), said troopers from the Army’s 83rd Infantry Battalion engaged an estimated 20 communist guerillas in a firefight in Barangay Tabogon around 1 p.m. The soldiers recovered three caliber .45 pistols and materials for the production of improvised explosive devices in the encounter site.

In Quezon province, at least four NPA rebels were killed in another encounter in San Francisco town on Tuesday afternoon.

“We extend our deepest sympathy to the bereaved families of the NPA killed in the encounter,” Lt. General Ferdinand Quidilla, Solcom commander, said in a statement.

Quidilla said the state security forces will continue to adhere to the President’s order to wage war against NPA rebels “who continue to conduct violent attacks against the soldiers and the public”.

Perez said Solcom appealed to NPA rebels to lay down their arms and “stop the senseless fighting against fellow Filipinos and participate on a more peaceful resolution of armed conflict through localized peace talks.” JE