A New People’s Army commander and six of his men were killed in an encounter with Army soldiers and policemen early on Friday morning in a village in Matnog, Sorsogon.
Chief Supt. Victor Deona, Bicol police commander, however, said the fatalities have yet to be identified, adding that two rebels were captured.
One of the captured rebels was taken to a hospital for treatment of minor wounds he suffered during the encounter, Deona said.
The bodies of the fatalities were taken to a funeral parlor in Matnog, where they can be identified by their relatives.
Deona said one of the casualties was identified by village residents as a commander, using the names Ka Cris and Randy.
He said the communist guerrillas were in the place and were preparing to attack the Matnog police station when they were found by the soldiers and policemen who were on security patrol.
Deona said those involved in the encounter believed that there could be more than seven fatalities, saying that though surprised, the rebels were able to put up strong resistance in their withdrawal resulting in an almost 30-minute gun battle.
A police report said information about the presence of some 25 heavily armed rebels on mission for revolutionary taxation at Sitio Hukdong, Barangay Balocawe, in Matnog town was also reported to the Army-police hotline allegedly by a barangay resident. Matnog has been the site of several bloody battles between communist rebels and government forces some two decades ago.
Deona added that there were intelligence reports that the communist guerrillas planned to attack the Matnog police station to seize firearms stored in the facility.
Owing the reports, Deona said that Army Scout Rangers and policemen in the area were able to hatch a plan to stop the attack.
No government casualty was reported in the gun battle that started at 5:40 a.m.
The troops recovered six high-powered firearms including a light machinegun and an M-203 grenade launcher at the scene of the encounter.
Maj. Gen. Yerson Depaysa, 9th Infantry “Spear” Division commander, troops from the 31st Infantry Battalion under 903 Infantry Brigade are in hot pursuit of the fleeing rebels, adding he had also ordered the village secured.
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