SIX New People’s Army (NPA) rebels, including two leaders, were killed in a clash with government troops in Bagumbayan town in Sultan Kudarat yesterday morning.
One of the fatalities was identified as Dennis Dolunan, alias Kalbo, executive committee member and deputy secretary of the NPA’s East Daguma Front.
Also killed was Dolunan’s wife, Lailyn, alias Aira, who is the unit’s medical officer; Sep Kasa, alias Ho; and Jerry Kasa, alias Kikil.
The two other fatalities, both males, have yet to be identified.
Troops from the Army’s 7th Infantry Battalion were conducting a security operation in Sitio Mudti in Barangay Chua at around 5:30 a.m. when they clashed with around 10 rebels.
After a 24-minute firefight, troops recovered at the encounter site the bodies of the six rebels, three M16 rifles, an AK47 rifle, magazines, assorted ammunition, three bandoliers, and rebel documents, among others.
No one was killed or wounded on the government side.
Maj. Gen. Roy Galido, commander of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, urged remaining rebels in the province and other areas to surrender “and accept the programs and services being offered by our government.”
“As much as possible, we don’t want lives to be wasted, because we don’t want to see families suffering from the loss of their family members and loved ones,” said Galido.
The encounter occurred a day after Army soldiers assaulted an NPA hideout in Barangay Imelda in Las Navas, Northern Samar, leading to the death of six rebels and recovery of 16 assorted firearms.
The rebels killed in the Northern Samar clash were said to be part of a group that attacked a community in Barangay Dorillo, Jipapad town in Eastern Samar last October 7 that left two soldiers dead and two other soldiers and a 10-year-old girl wounded.
