Army report: NPA rebel killed in Batangas clash

A member of the New People’s Army (NPA) was killed in a clash between the communist rebels and government forces in Lian town in Batangas province on Monday.

Maj. Gen. Rhoderick Parayno, commander of the Army’s 2nd Infantry Division (ID), said soldiers, led by one S/Sgt. Ocampo, engaged 15 rebels in a 15-minute firefight in Barangay Lumaniag at 3 a.m. No casualty was reported on the government side.

In a statement, Col. Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos, commander of the 202nd Infantry Brigade, said members of the 730th Combat Group of the Philippine Air Force were tipped off about a group of armed men conducting “extortion activities” in the area.

The slain rebel had yet to be identified.

Soldiers recovered three rifles left behind by the rebels in the clash site.

Burgos said Monday’s encounter was the ninth in Southern Luzon since the respective unilateral ceasefires declared by the government and communist rebels were withdrawn this month.

Six rebels had been killed in clashes while five had surrendered.

Government troops have also seized 15 firearms and eight improvised explosives from the rebels, according to military records.