ILOILO City – A suspected member of the New People’s Army (NPA) was found dead at the encounter site in Sitio Agdalusan, Barangay Jayobo, Lambunao, Iloilo on Tuesday afternoon, Sept. 19.
The unidentified fatality, around 20 to 25 years old, had a gunshot wound on his head, according to Lieutenant Colonel J-Jay Javines, spokesperson of the Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division (3ID).
“As of now wala pa na-identify ang bangkay kay wala ID. Ang bangkay nasulod sa duyan kay basi gin-try sang mga upod nila nga dal-on. May nakita kita madamo nga tinulo sang dugo so we believe may ara pilason or patay man sa ila,” Javines said.
On Tuesday morning, the Philippine Army’s 82nd Infantry Battalion (82IB) engaged in a gun battle against the approximately 10 armed rebels from the Baloy Platoon of the NPA Komiteng Rehiyon-Panay’s Central Front.
Private First Class (PFC) Mars Echevarria was killed while PFC Joemarie Llesis was wounded.
The government troops were in the area in response to reports of armed individuals engaging in extortion activities and foraging for food when the encounter occurred./PN
