An alleged communist rebel was killed in a firefight in Amai Manabilang, Lanao del Sur.

Troops of the 16th Scout Ranger Company under the Army’s 103rd Infantry Brigade engaged the members of Platun Uno, Sub Regional Committee 5 (SRC-5), North Central Mindanao Regional Committee (NCMRC) of the New People’s Army (NPA) in an exchange of fire in Barangay Bandara Ingod.

The encounter resulted in the death of a rebel and confiscation of an M16 rifle.

No casualty was reported on the government side.

The military said pursuit and scouring operations are ongoing while other military units have been alerted for possible withdrawal routes of the enemy.

Prior to this, another encounter erupted on August 22, 2025 in Barangay Pagonayan involving members of SRC-5, which resulted in the surrender of a female rebel.

“These recent incidents are part of the ninth government-initiated armed engagement with SRC-5 this year, which has already led to the surrender of seven members and further weakened the group’s operational capacity,” the 1st Infantry Division (1ID) said.

103rd Infantry Brigade Commander, Brigadier General Billy Dela Rosa, said the sustained military pressure and the cooperation of the community have brought SRC-5 to the verge of collapse.

“With our continued operations and the support of the people, we are close to accomplishing our mission of totally defeating SRC-5,” Dela Rosa said.