3 NPAs slain in N. Cotabato clash

MANILA, Philippines - Three communist rebels were killed in a clash with Army troops Sunday in Makilala, North Cotabato.

Col. Leopoldo Galon, spokesman for the Armed Forces of the Philippines‘ Eastern Mindanao Command, said troops from the 57th Infantry Battalion (IB) overran a rebel camp in Sitio Ilitasan, Barangay Biangan in Makilala town at around 1:20 p.m.

Galon said the soldiers encountered about 30 New People’s Army (NPA) rebels and engaged them in a 30-minute firefight that resulted in the death of three insurgents.

Lt. Manuel Gatus, civil-military relations officer of the Army’s 57th IB, said the NPA rebels opened fire on patrolling soldiers.

“The enemy scampered away leaving three killed comrades behind,” Galon said.

Makilala’s municipal police chief Joyce Birre said they are still trying to determine the identities of the fatalities.

There were no reported casualties on the government side. Soldiers recovered two M-16 and two M-14 rifles.

Galon said they have launched a pursuit operations on the rebels.

Meanwhile, in Arakan, North Cotabato, communist rebels killed a militiaman and wounded another in an ambush Sunday dawn, the military said.

Jerry Mendoza, a member of the Citizens Armed Forces Geographical Unit in Araka, died from gunshot wounds in the head and different parts of the body.   

Mendoza and another militiaman, Rogelio Herbilla were riding a motorcycle on their way to a detachment in Barangay Salangsang in Arakan when motorcycle-riding men blocked their path and shot them.   – With John Unson