A NEW People’s Army (NPA) rebel was killed while four others, including two minors, were captured by government troops after a firefight in Guihulngan City in Negros Oriental.
Troops from the Army’s 62nd Infantry Division conducted combat operation in Sitio Manlibod in Barangay Sandayao on Saturday after receiving information about rebel extortion activities in the area.
Capt. Kim Apitong, spokesman of the Army’s 3rd Infantry Division in Iloilo City, said the soldiers clashed with about 12 rebels for about five minutes, leading to the death of the one of the insurgents.
Apitong said four other rebels were also captured, two of them aged 15 and 17. Two of the four captured rebels were injured in the firefight, including the 17-year-old minor, said Apitong.
Soldiers also recovered at the encounter site a KG-9 semi-automatic pistol, a cal. 45 cal. pistol, a backpack, and NPA documents, among others.
62nd IB commander Lt. Col. Melvin Flores said residents of Barangay Sandayao provided the information about the rebel extortion activities. He said this only proves the residents are against the rebel presence in their community.
3rd Infantry Division commander Maj. Gen. Benedict Arevalo said: “With continuous support of the populace, we are positive that insurgency in this part of the region will soon come to an end.
