MANILA – The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Tuesday said two New People's Army (NPA) rebels were killed while four high-powered firearms were seized after a series of encounters with government troops in Occidental Mindoro on Monday.
“With the AFP’s persistent focused military operations alongside the cooperation and support of other agencies and local government units, we will continue to pressure the communist terrorists to lay down their arms and go back to the mainstream society,” AFP chief Gen. Andres Centino said in a statement.
The first encounter occurred in the morning as combined elements of the Army’s 68th Infantry Battalion, and Philippine National Police Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) clashed with about 10 NPA members in Barangay Malpalon, Calintaan, Occidental Mindoro.
The five-minute firefight resulted in the death of a female fighter, seizure of one M-16 rifle, and wounding of one soldier.
The succeeding operation was led by joint elements of the 4th Infantry Battalion, 76th Infantry Battalion, and 68th Infantry Battalion against more or less five NPAs who were withdrawing from the previous encounter.
The 20-minute firefight resulted in the death of a male communist terrorist and the seizure of an M-16 Bushmaster rifle, magazines for M-16 rifle, improvised hand grenade, and various ammunition.
Another encounter also took place between 76th Infantry Battalion soldiers and four fleeing NPA rebels at Sitio Salad in Barangay Malpalon.
The firefight lasted for about 10 minutes which resulted in the capture of an M-16 rifle, M-14 rifle, anti-personnel mine, hand grenade, rifle grenade, bandolier, and subversive documents. (PNA)
