2 rebels killed in encounter with soldiers

NAGA CITY, Philippines – Two unidentified men believed to be New People’s Army guerrillas were left dead after a 10-minute firefight with the Army in Iriga City, Camarines Sur, on Friday afternoon.

Maj. Angelo S. Guzman, spokesman of the Army’s 9th Infantry Division based in Pili, Camarines Sur, said the encounter happened in a wooded part of Barangay (village) Antipolo, Iriga City, at around 2:40 p.m.

A team of soldiers under the 42nd Infantry Battalion was patrolling the area when they encountered about 10 members of the New People’s Army, Guzman said.

None of the soldiers was hurt in the incident.

He said the Army was able to recover one M16 rifle and an M3653 assault rifle along with the bodies after the firefight, he said.

He added the Army had been on the lookout for the same group prior to the encounter after residents complained of extortion activities in the village.

Guzman said the bodies of the slain men were brought to the city proper, just about 1.3 kilometers from the encounter site, and placed in the custody of the city government awaiting families to claim them.