6 soldiers killed in Capiz clash

ILOILO CITY — Six members of the Army’s Task Force Panay, including a captain, were killed in an encounter with New People’s Army rebels in Tapaz, Capiz at dawn yesterday.

A government militiaman and a guerrilla were also slain in Barangay Daan Sur, reports said.

The soldiers were patrolling the village when they encountered at least 12 rebels. One of the slain Army men was identified as Capt. Francisco Ponteveros.

In a related incident, four guerrillas were killed in a one-hour firefight with members of the Army’s 22nd Infantry Battalion in Ligao City, Albay yesterday afternoon. Nobody was wounded on the government side. — Leo Solinap, Mike Frialde and Celso Amo