Troops from the 79th Infantry Battalion (IB), responding to reports of local residents that 12 armed men believed to be rebels were conducting extortion activities in the area, engaged the enemy in a firefight that lasted 30 minutes, Lt. Col. Emelito Thaddeus Logan, 79th IB commander, said.
Logan added the rebels scampered in various directions, leaving behind their three slain comrades at the encounter site.
Philippine Army soldiers recovered M16 and AK 47 assault rifles, five magazines of M16 with ammunition, seven magazines of AK 47 also with ammunition, three rifle grenades, four M4 magazines with bullets, two hand-held radios and 12 backpacks containing personal belongings.
The slain rebels have not yet been identified as of press time, as their bodies were turned over to the Calatrava municipal government for identification by their respective families.
The injured soldier identified as Staff Sgt. Edwin Gardose is now in stable condition.
Earlier, Brig. Gen. Benedict Arevalo, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, said their combat operations would continue even during the Holy Week to quell rebel atrocities.
On April 15, Army soldiers overran a rebel camp in Bindoy, Negros Oriental that resulted in recovery of two M16 and M4 automatic rifles.
In Bislig City, Surigao del Sur, an NPA commander was arrested last Sunday by the Philippine Army.
Second Lt. Abigail Lorenzo, spokesman for the 4th Infantry Division, said the 75th IB and the Bislig City Police Station made the arrest on Sunday night at Purok 1, Sitio San Agustin, Barangay San Roque in Bislig City.
The NPA commander was identified as Robert Tejero Calipay, alias Satur or Arpak, 29, who leads the NPA’s Platoon 2 of the Guerilla Front 14 under the Northeastern Mindanao Regional Committee.
Lorenzo said Calipay had a standing arrest warrant that stemmed from charges of arson, frustrated murder, attempted homicide, multiple attempted murders and attempted murder.
Calipay is detained at the Bislig City Police Station and is subject for inquest proceedings after the conduct of medico-legal at the Bislig District Hospital.
Lt. Col. Jaime Datuin, 75th IB commander, also urged the NPA rebels under Calipay to surrender to authorities.
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