5 CAFGU members killed in Quezon clash —military

Five members of the Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit (CAFGU) were killed in an encounter with alleged New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in Tagkawayan, Quezon on Friday, the military said.

Colonel Dennis Cana, spokesperson of the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Southern Luzon Command (Solcom) said two other CAFGU members and one soldier were also wounded in the encounter.

“Wala pa tayong formal report dito pero initially kasi lima 'yung patay na CAFGU (We have no formal report on this yet but initially five CAFGU members were killed),” he told reporters.

“Tapos tatlo yung wounded. Very minor lang naman yung wounded na isa (three were wounded. One of them sustained only a minor wound),” Cana added.

There is no information yet on whether the enemy side suffered casualties, according to Cana.

The clash started around 7 a.m. while the government troops were conducting patrol operation in Sitio Pagasa in Barangay Mapulot.

Pursuit operations against the suspected rebels are still ongoing, Cana said. —Joviland Rita/KBK, GMA Integrated News