LEGAZPI CITY — At least two suspected members of the New People’s Army (NPA) and a government trooper were killed on Tuesday in a clash in Barangay (village) Joroan in the geothermal town of Tiwi in Albay.
Albay Provincial Police Office (APPO) spokesperson, Chief Inspector Arthur Gomez, quoting an initial report, said that around 8:30 a.m., a platoon of Army soldiers on combat patrol engaged a 30-man group of suspected NPA guerrillas in a 15-minute firefight.
Gomez said the identities of the slain rebels are yet to be determined as their bodies are still being transported to the town hall for identification and documentation purposes.
Recovered from the encounter scene were four M16 rifles and two M203 grenade launchers, two bandoliers with seven magazines with ammunition, 13 backpacks, two cellular phones, one hand-held radio, two landmines and subversive documents.
Army soldiers are now scouring the neighboring villages to capture some of the fleeing NPA rebels who might have sought refuge in the area . (PNA)