NPA killed in Sorsogon clash against gov't forces

By Ronron
March 9, 2008

A suspected communist guerilla was killed in a brief clash with government forces before dawn of Sunday in Sorsogon province, a military spokesman said.

Armed Forces Southern Luzon Command spokesman Maj. Randolph Cabangbang said the unidentified rebel died after a five-minute firefight ensued between Philippine Army elements and more or less five suspected members of the New People's Army (NPA) at 3am yesterday at the vicinity of Kilometer 7, Barangay Abuyog in Sorsogon City.

Cabangbang said the elements of the Philippine Army's 22nd and 9th Infantry Battalions conducted strike operations in said area after "disgruntled civilian residents" reported the presence of the armed rebels.

Aside from killing one rebel, the government forces also recovered two M16 rifles, two bandoleer containing 11 short magazines, three long magazines loaded with ammunition, and a backpack containing personal belongings, said Cabangbang.

There was no casualty on the government side, Cabangbang said.

The 5,760-strong NPA has been waging guerilla warfare in the countryside for almost four decades now, and the government aims to neutralize them by 2010 when President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ends her term.

Peace talks between the government and the communists bogged down in August 2004 after the latter were tagged as terrorists by some foreign governments./DMS