Rebel killed, 7 high-powered NPA weapons recovered in Agusan Del Norte clash

From the Philippine News Agency (Mar 16): Rebel killed, 7 high-powered NPA weapons recovered in Agusan Del Norte clash

Troopers from the 29th Infantry Battalion and 13th Regional Police Service Battalion have killed a New People's Army (NPA) fighter and recoverted seven high-powered firearms during an encounter in the heavily-forested areas of Barangay Hinimbigan, Kitcharao town, Agusan Del Norte Monday morning.

Capt. Joe Patrick Martinez, 4th Infantry Division deputy public affairs office chief, said the clash took place at about 8:20 a.m.

Military and police units were proceeding to the area after receiving reports that NPA fighters affiliated to the Guerilla Front 16 of North Eastern Mindanao Regional Committee were extorting money from residents in Barangay Hinimbigan to celebrate their coming March 29 anniversary.

Upon arrival at the said area, NPAs indiscriminately opened fire against the government troops while unmindful of the presence of civilians in the community.

Security forces, however managed to return fire and manuever to a more advantageous position, killing one NPA and wounding many others.

The rebels retreated 20 minutes later.

Martinez said civilians saw these men carrying their wounded and dead comrade.

Recovered from the encounter scene were an M-203 grenade launcher, three M-16 automatic rifles, and two AK-47 rifles along with undetonated IEDs (improvised explosive devices) with complete paraphernalia, backpacks of NPA casualties and subversive documents with high intelligence value.

Also retrieved was the body of the rebel killed in the firefight.

Martinez said that the 29th Infantry Battalion and Kitcharao local government unit is now trying to identify the slain NPA for proper disposition.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=744814