Alleged NPA rebel killed in Occ Mindoro clash

MANILA, Philippines - A suspected communist rebel was killed while an undetermined number of his comrades were believed wounded in a clash with Army soldiers in Occidental Mindoro province, a military report said. The report said the clash erupted 6:30 a.m. Wednesday when elements of the 80th Infantry Battalion chanced upon 20 New People's Army rebels at Sitio Pusog, Barangay Ligaya in Sablayan town. Lt. Col. Arnulfo Burgos, commanding officer of the 80th IB, said the battle lasted for 30 minutes. The troops recovered the body of the unidentified rebel as well as anM16 rifle, four mobile phones, a fragmentation grenade, and several subversive documents. No government casualties were mentioned in the report. The NPA is the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines. The outlawed group will celebrate its 40th founding anniversary in March. President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo had earlier directed security forces to crush the communist insurgency by the end of her term in June 2010. - GMANews.TV