Soldier, 3 rebels killed in clashes

At least four people, including an Army lieutenant, were killed in clashes between government forces and communist guerrillas, military reports said yesterday.

1Lt. Meliton Biernes, of the Army’s 5th Infantry Division, was shot dead by a rebel sniper as he led his troops in a raid on a New People’s Army (NPA) camp in the remote Isabela town of San Mariano last Thursday, the military said.

Troops who overran the camp found bloodstains, indicating that the guerrillas had suffered some casualties before fleeing, the reports said.

On the same day, three NPA guerrillas were killed and numerous others were believed wounded in a clash with soldiers in Davao Oriental. There were no casualties on the government side, the reports said.

Meanwhile, NPA hit men gunned down SPO3 Victor Jallorena, 50, a police intelligence agent, inside his house in Sta. Cruz, Ilocos Sur Thursday night.

The NPA is the armed wing of the underground communist movement. Peace talks with the insurgents were suspended last year after the NPA gunned down two legislators. — Charlie Lagasca, Paolo Romero, Artemio Dumlao and AFP