A suspected New People’s Army (NPA) rebel was killed in an encounter with government troops yesterday morning in a remote village of Miag-ao, Iloilo.
The body of the still unidentified rebel was recovered at the clash site in Sitio Lay, Barangay Daleji, Miag-ao, said Lieutenant Colonel Joel Benedict Batara, commander of the Philippine Army’s 61st Infantry Battalion (61IB).
The clash happened at around 11:10 a.m. There were around 30 rebels believed belonging to the Suyak Platoon of NPA Panay’s Southern Front Committee.
The firefight lasted for some 15 minutes.
“The encounter site was a mountainous area and really rebel-infested. It was about 25 kilometers away from the town proper of Miag-ao. The fatality has yet to be identified kasi malayo talaga at walang signal ang tao natin sa doon,” Batara said.
The rebels withdrew to the mountains and left their dead comrade.
Soldiers also recovered flags and an M16 armalite rifle.
“The encounter site was a mountainous area and really rebel-infested. It was about 25 kilometers away from the town proper of Miag-ao. The fatality has yet to be identified kasi malayo talaga at walang signal ang tao natin sa doon,” Batara said.
The rebels withdrew to the mountains and left their dead comrade.
Soldiers also recovered flags and an M16 armalite rifle.
The 61IB deployed reinforcements for a follow-up and clearing operations.
Batara told Panay News he received information from the community last week about armed men in the towns of San Joaquin, Miag-ao and some villages in Antique province.
He said rebels were recruiting new members in the 1st District, targeting mostly youngsters in mountainous areas.
“We will continue to hunt them,” said Batara.
Last week, at least 12 rebels in Antique surrendered to the 61IB and the Antique Police Provincial Office after long years of armed struggle.
They claimed hunger and deception forced them to surrender and they wanted to avail themselves of the government’s reintegration program.
https://www.panaynews.net/rebel-killed-in-miag-ao-clash/
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