2 alleged rebels killed in Negros Oriental clash

DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines - Two suspected members of the New People's Army (NPA) were reportedly killed in a two-hour firefight with government troops in the hinterland area of Sta. Catalina, Negros Oriental Friday morning. Army Colonel Cesar Yano, commander of the 302nd Infantry Brigade, however, clarified that there was no body count yet as of this writing Friday. He explained that the report came from the farmers who allegedly saw withdrawing NPA men bringing with them two dead bodies of their comrades. Yano said the troops belongs to the 79th Infantry Battalion (IB) led by Lieutenant Colonel Erwin Bernard Neri who are still conducting clearing operation in the area. The 79th IB under the command of 302nd Brigade found bloodstains from at least 20 recovered tents believed to be owned by NPA, the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP). However, there was no reported casualty from the government soldiers. Yano told Sun.Star troopers of the 79th IB conducting combat operation in Sitio Kalabasahan in the village of Milagrosa in Sta. Catalina town around 8 a.m. when the rebel group provoked the firefight that lasted over two hours. More than 60 NPA men armed with high-powered firearms withdrawn from the gun battle. Neri, in a separate phone interview, said they are still pursuing the withdrawing NPA men. Aside from tents and hammocks, the troop also recovered subversive documents. No firearms however were recovered from the site, which was believed to be a temporary encampment of the rebel group. – Sun.Star Dumaguete