Rebel slain in Surigao City encounter with Army troops

From the Philippine News Agency (Feb 24): Rebel slain in Surigao City encounter with Army troops

Troopers from the 30th Infantry Battalion killed a New People's Army (NPA) fighter during an encounter in Surigao City Sunday morning.

Eastern Mindanao Command spokesperson Capt. Alberto Caber said that soldiers were responding to extortion complaints of residents when the 15-minute firefight occurred around 9:30 a.m. in Sitio Bedrock, Barangay Mabini.

Recovered from the slain NPA fighter was an AK-47 automatic rifle.

No casualty was reported in the government side.

Eastern Mindanao Command head Lt. Gen. Ricardo Rainier G. Cruz III commended the soldiers of 30th Infantry Battalion for their successful mission in protecting communities from the rebels' extortion attempts.

He earlier reminded all military units in the area to undertake joint operations with the local police.

“Our soldiers are on its effort for the protection of communities from the NPA’s extortion, deception and anti-people works," Cruz said.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=619392