6 rebels, soldier killed in Batangas clash

Batangas map. INQUIRER FILES

LUCENA CITY — At least six alleged communist New People’s Army (NPA) and a government soldier were killed in an encounter early Sunday morning (Dec. 17) in Balayan town in Batangas province, the military said.

Lieutenant Colonel Hector Estolas, public affairs office chief of the Army’s 2nd Infantry Division, in a report said patrolling soldiers from 59th Infantry Battalion engaged a band of NPA rebels in Barangay (village) Malalay early dawn.

The military claimed that six communist guerillas were slain in the clash. The soldiers recovered two M16 rifles, one M653 rifle and one shotgun from the clash site.

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The report disclosed that an Army soldier was also killed and three others were wounded during the encounter. The wounded were taken to a hospital in the locality.

In a separate statement, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, Jr. condoled with the family of the slain soldier, as well as those wounded, as he also committed to assisting them during this difficult time.

He added that the three other soldiers were already in a hospital recovering from their injuries.

Likewise, House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez expressed his deepest sympathies to the affected families and appealed to NPA members “to abandon the path of violence and rejoin the fold of the law.”

“This loss is a profound reminder of the sacrifices our armed forces make to ensure our nation’s security. We also keep in our thoughts those who were wounded in this incident, and we join the Executive Department in assuring their families of the government’s full support during this difficult time,” he said in another statement.

The report did not provide the identities of the soldiers and how long the clash lasted.

Hot pursuit operations are now ongoing against the NPA rebels.