5 alleged NPA members killed in Masbate encounter

Troops killed five suspected communist rebels in an encounter in Masbate, the Philippine Army said Thursday.

Soldiers deployed in the municipality of Cawayan conducted a security patrol after receiving reports of armed men in the area, according to 9th Infantry Division spokesman Major Frank Roldan.

“Nagkaroon ng encounter ng more or less 20 minutes ang tinagal tapos ‘yun nagsipulasan na. Iniwan ‘yung mga ano, naiwan ‘yung patay nilang kasama,” Roldan said.

(There was an encounter that lasted for around 20 minutes. Then they ran away, and they left their dead comrades.)

“Initially, lima ‘yung namatay tapos isa ‘yung nasugatan. Tapos ‘yung anim din na ano, nabaril, matataas na kalibre ng baril ‘yung nakuha,” he added.

(Five died, initially one was injured. Six high caliber firearms were recovered.)

Roldan also said three individuals were captured. —Joahna Lei Casilao/VAL, GMA Integrated News