2 rebels killed in Sorsogon clash

MANILA, Philippines – A key New People’s Army commander based in the Bicol region and one of his men were killed in an early morning clash with elements of the Army’s Special Operations Command in the outskirts of Bacon, Sorsogon yesterday.

Maj. Gen. Arturo Ortiz, the Army’s Socom commander in a text message, identified the slain NPA leader as Raul Halog alias “Ka RH” and “Ka Reeboy.”

Military files showed that Halog is the incumbent head of Sentro de Grabidad (SGD) of the NPA’s Front Committee 79 (FC-79) operating in Sorsogon.

Fighting broke out when the Army’s Socom force composed of Scout Ranger elements encountered a 15-man NPA band at about 7 a.m. yesterday while harboring in the vicinity of Barangay Sugod, Ortiz said.

Ortiz said the armed engagement which lasted for almost half an hour resulted to Halog’s death and one of his men.

Scout Ranger troops recovered the bodies of the two slain rebels after they were abandoned by their fleeing comrades, Ortiz said

Aside from the body count, pursuing troops also recovered an M16-A1 assault rifle, a .45 caliber pistol, six backpacks and subversive documents at the scene of the encounter.