CAMP APOLINARIO, Davao City (PNA) — A New People’s Army (NPA) rebel was killed while several of his companions were believed wounded during a gun battle that erupted Saturday morning between government troops and an undetermined number of communist terrorists in the village of New Visayas in Lupon town, Davao Oriental province, the military reported on Sunday.
Capt. Emmanuel R. Garcia, the Public Affairs Office chief of the Army’s 10th Infantry (Agila) Division, said the hour-long firefight started at 7 a.m. and reportedly involved communist terrorists belonging to the regular force of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP)-NPA Southern Mindanao Regional Committee (SMRC).
The gun battle took place after operating troops of the Army’s 28th Infantry Battalion responded to information of New Visayas residents regarding the presence of armed men in their place, Garcia said.
After the encounter, the government soldiers recovered in the scene two M16 rifles, one shotgun, assorted live ammunition and anti-government documents.
The body of the slain rebel was brought to the town proper by soldiers for identification and for proper burial so that his relatives could accord him their last respect, Garcia said.
Meanwhile, Maj. Gen. Carlos Holganza, commanding general of the Army’s 10th “Agila” Division, lauded the concern of local residents in the peace efforts of the government.
“We are moved by the show of support and concern of our citizens in Davao Oriental in curbing criminality and terrorism in their place. While we are on a positive note, we grieve over the death of another Filipino who was lured, deceived and exploited by the CPP-NPA-NDF into joining an organization known for its notoriety in killing innocent people and sabotaging our economy with their big-time extortion activity,” Holganza said.
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