Suspected NPA rebel killed in Surigao del Sur clash — military

A suspected New People’s Army rebel was killed Wednesday following a 30-minute encounter with government security forces, the Philippine Army’s 3rd Special Forces Battalion said Friday.

In a statement, the battalion’s commanding officer Lieutenant Colonel Benedict Harvey said the troops conducted the operation in the reported hideout of the rebels in Barangay Buhisan.

According to Gernale, the rebels fired at the troops which prompted the soldiers to fight back “resulting in the death of one of their members.”

The military said the suspected NPA member who died in the encounter has yet to be identified.

According to the military, the suspected rebels were part of the NPA’s Sub-Regional Sentro de Grabidad Southland, Northeastern Mindanao Regional Committee.

Illegal firearms and war materiel were seized from the site including two M16A1 rifles, an AK-47 rifle, an M653 rifle, two bandoleers bearing five fully loaded M16 magazines and four fully loaded AK-47 magazines.

Gernale said the residents from Sitio Gacub and Sitio Cagte reported the presence of the rebels, who were allegedly involved in extortion activities.

There were also similar reports from Sitio Gambuyon and Sitio Uranium, he added. — Joviland Rita/RSJ, GMA News