Gov't forces kill 2 NPA rebels: military

Source: Philstar

MANILA (Xinhua) -- Two New People's Army (NPA) rebels were killed on Friday following a clash with government forces in Masbate province, more than a month after the NPA attacked a police station there, the military said.

 

Col. Generoso Bolina, spokesman of the military's Southern Luzon Command, said the clash occurred around 6:20 a.m. in Quintana village, San Pascual town.

 

The operation was prompted by the Aug. 14 rebel attack of the Mobo police station that resulted in the death of a soldier and wounding of 10 others, Bolina said.

 

"After weeks of hot pursuit operations, Army soldiers encountered about 15 NPA rebels," Bolina said, adding the fighting lasted for 15 minutes, after which the rebels withdrew, leaving behind their two dead comrades.

 

Found at the encounter scene were a cal. 30 machine gun with ammunition, an M16 rifle, an M653 rifle, three cal. 38 revolvers, 21 improvised explosive devices, a bandolier, two backpacks and rebel documents, said Bolina.

 

Meanwhile, four government soldiers were wounded in another clash Thursday afternoon in Labo town, Camarines Norte province, said Maj. Angelo Guzman, spokesman of the military's 10th Infantry Division.

 

Guzman said forces of the 92nd Division Reconnaissance Company were on their way to a coordinating conference for an upcoming civic action mission when they spotted about 30 rebels, ensuing a 30-minute firefight.

 

Quoting one of the soldiers who figured in the clash, Guzman said: "It's good we were able to spot them first. That's why despite their superiority in number and advantage in position, we were able to fight back and make them withdraw."

 

The NPA, armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines, has been waging a guerrilla campaign in the countryside for more than four decades. The Philippine military estimates that there are over 4,000 NPA guerrilla fighters scattered in more than 60 provinces throughout the country.