ILOILO City – A suspected member of the New People’s Army (NPA) was killed in a clash with the soldiers of the Philippine Army’s 12th Infantry Battalion (12IB) in Sitio Naatip, Barangay Lahug, Tapaz, Capiz over the weekend.
Lieutenant Colonel Vicel Jan Garsuta, commander of the 12IB, said that the government troops, while having a combat operation, engaged some 10 rebels believed to be members of the Central Front Committee (CF), KR-Panay.
After 30 minutes of firefight, the armed rebels withdrew to southeast direction.
Garsuta said the male fatality has yet to be identified as no identification card was recovered from his possession.
He added that no one was harmed on the government side.
The 12IB soldiers also recovered from the encounter site war materials, an M16 rifle and five backpacks.
“As of now we deployed blocking force personnel to run after the remaining armed men. We have no Christmas break against the rebels, but if they want to celebrate Christmas and New Year with their family and relatives, they can surrender to us and we assure of their safety,” Garsuta said./PN
