A 29-year-old farmer was killed after being hit by a stray bullet during an encounter between troopers from the 31st Infantry Battalion and New People's Army (NPA) fighters in Barangay San Jose, Bulusan, Sorsogon Thursday morning.
1st Lt. Clint Antipala, 903rd Infantry Brigade spokesperson, said the clash took place at around 6:45 a.m.He identified the fatality as Jestoni Garote, 29, married and a resident of Barangay San Jose.
Investigators are still determining which side fired the fatal bullet.
The clash lasted for 10 to 15 minutes, Antipala said.
No casualties were reported on the government side but several blood trails were seen, indicative that some of the rebels were wounded in the firefight.
Two backpacks containing "rally paraphernalia" were recovered from the encounter scene. Pursuit operations are still ongoing.
Antipala said that troopers from the 31st Infantry Battalion were conducting patrol operations in the wake of reports that the NPAs were forcing residents to join them in their protest actions this coming Sept. 21 when the encounter took place.
Sept. 21 marks the 42nd anniversary of Martial Law declaration in the country by former President Ferdinand Marcos.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=685625
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