2 NPA rebels killed, soldier wounded in Compostela Valley clash

DAVAO CITY — Two New People’s Army (NPA) rebels were killed and a soldier was wounded during an hour-long clash in New Bataan, Compostela Valley, the military said Sunday.

Soldiers under the 66th Infantry Battalion were responding to reports of harassment in Sitio Tadia in Barangay Bantacan when they clashed with the rebels, numbering about 30 at around 8:56 a.m. Saturday.

Lt. Col. Palmer Parungao, 66th IB commander, said the bodies of the slain rebels had been recovered, along with five high-powered firearms, nine improvised explosive devices (IEDs), two binoculars, a rifle grenade, electrical wires and blasting paraphernalia.

Also recovered, Parungao said, were five cellphones, a handheld radio, medical kits, personal belongings, food and “subversive documents.”

The wounded soldier was airlifted to the military hospital here and was already in stable condition as of Sunday, he said.

The bodies of the slain rebels were also turned over to New Bataan officials.