CAFGU killed in encounter with rebels

COTABATO CITY, Philippines - A militiaman was killed while a still undetermined number of communist rebels were wounded in a running firefight in Lake Sebu town in South Cotabato on Sunday, a belated military report said.

1Lt. Behuel Barber, public affairs chief of the Army’s 27th Infantry Battalion, in a press statement emailed Tuesday, identified the slain member of the Citizens Armed Forces Geographical Unit as Amar Pernal, who died from gunshot wounds he sustained in the encounter.

Pernal was with a team of soldiers verifying the reported presence of New People’s Army guerillas at Barangay Ned in Lake Sebu when the rebels, positioned on a hill, opened fire, provoking a 40-minute firefight.

Rebels have lately been frequenting Barangay Ned to extort money from villagers.

The encounter waned only when the rebels ran out of ammunition, forcing them to scamper away.

Villagers reported to the local police seeing nine wounded guerillas being carried away by their fleeing comrades.

Barber said they are certain the rebel group had casualties.

Barber, however, said they do not have actual body counts of the rebels that were either killed or wounded in the ensuing encounter.