Lt. Col. Francisco Simbajon, information chief of the Army’s 4th Infantry Division, said the firefight erupted when men of the 41st Division Reconnaissance Company led by 1Lt. Dranreb Canto chanced upon the NPA camp at Km. 33 in Laak, Conception town.
After shooting it out for one hour and 30 minutes, the rebels, numbering about 30, abandoned their camp, bringing along their wounded comrades.
The wounded soldier was identified as Sgt. Julito Echalico. — Lino de la Cruz, Ramil Bajo