2 rebels killed, 2 others hurt in Zamboanga del Norte clash

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines -  Two communist insurgents were killed while two others, including a soldier, were wounded in encounter that sparked Wednesday afternoon in a village of Zamboanga del Norte, according to a military official.

The elements of the 10th Infantry Battalion launched the operation following reports that the New People’s Army (NPA) rebels were exacting extortion money from the villagers in Barangay Tinuyop, Leon Postigo town.

“According to 10th Infantry Battalion commanding officer Lt. Col. Taharudin Ampatuan, his troops went to the area to respond to reports from residents that NPA bandits were conducting extortion activities in the area,” Capt. Alberto Caber, Spokesman of 1st Army Division.

“These bandits belonged to the extortion unit of Western Mindanao Regional Party Committee (WMRPC),” Caber quoted Ampatuan as saying.

Ampatuan said the troops on security patrol caught up and engaged 20 NPA rebels in almost an hour firefight at sitio Napolan about 3 p.m. Wednesday.

Two rebels were killed and another insurgent was wounded in the encounter, according to Caber.

A soldier was also wounded in the firefight before the rebels broke up and escaped towards different directions.

The troops recovered one M16 assault rifle in the encounter site while pursuit operation ensued, Caber said.

Police forces in the area have set up checkpoints to block possible escape routes of the fleeing rebels.