1 NPA guerrilla slain, 2 captured in Albay clash

New People’s Army (NPA) | INQUIRER.net file photo

LEGAZPI CITY––The military said Tuesday in a report that a suspected New People’s Army (NPA) rebel was slain and two captured in separate encounters on Sunday, March 27, in a remote village in Oas town in Albay province.

Major John Paul Belleza, public affairs chief of the Philippine Army’s 9th Infantry Division, said soldiers on operation in Barangay Badbad captured Franklin Roaring, 34, and Mary Chris Reblando, 27, after a 20-minute firefight that started around 5 a.m.

Both were members of the “Komite Probinsyal 5” Larangan 1 Guerilla Front of the Bicol Regional Party Committee.

Belleza said the sighting of the 15-man rebel group triggered the firefight where another rebel, identified as Armancio Manto, 51, was slain.

He said Roaring was injured during the firefight and was taken Tuesday to a nearby hospital, where he remained while being treated for bullet wounds.

Reblando was detained in the town police custodial facility while awaiting the filing of complaints to the town prosecutors’ office.

Recovered from the clash scene were two M16 rifles, three landmines and explosive materials, two laptops, and propaganda materials.

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