1 of 3 rebels killed in clashes NPA leader's son - military

DAVAO CITY, Philippines - One of the three rebels killed in a series of encounters in Compostela Valley since Monday was the son of a rebel commander, the military said. Colonel Allan Luga, commander of the Army's 1001st Brigade, said the dead rebel was Pitoy Castillo from Pasian, Monkayo in Compostela Valley. He said Pitoy is a son of Rudy Castillo alias Jason, said to be the commander of the Pulang Bagani Command 5 operating in Compostela Valley. Pitoy died in a gun battle with government soldiers in Barangay Mangayon, Compostela, which lasted for almost two days. It was not known if the two other fatalities have also been identified. Colonel Rolando Bautista, spokesman of the Army's 10th Infantry Division, said the first encounter happened around 4:30 p.m. of May 12 against around 30 rebels. Bautista said the first encounter resulted in the death of one rebel and the recovery of an M14 rifle. At 6 p.m., about 20 rebels again clashed with the Army soldiers that resulted to the death of another rebel and the recovery of an M16 rifle. The following day, around 7:30 a.m., about 10 rebels again engaged the government troops that resulted in the death of another rebel and the recovery of a caliber .45 pistol. Bautista said no government soldier was killed in the three encounters. He surmised that several rebels were also wounded as indicated in the blood trails they saw in the clash sites. No government trooper was killed or wounded in the three clashes. – Sun.Star Davao