2 rebels dead, 2 soldiers hurt in Sorsogon clash

MANILA, Philippines - Two communist rebels were killed and two soldiers were hurt in an encounter in Gubat, Sorsogon Thursday morning.

Maj. Angelo Guzman, spokesman of the Army’s 9th division, said the clash happened at 9:05 a.m. within the vicinity of barangay Carriedo in Gubat town.

He said the firefight ensued after soldiers from the 31st battalion had foiled an attack by the New People’s Army Special Partisan Unit (NPA Sparu).

The military said the Sparu is a group of rebel assassins tagged in the deaths of some leftist figures and unarmed soldiers.

"When the soldiers approached them (rebels), they run and the soldiers chased them. When they reached Centro 2, barangay Carriedo, another group of five NPA (rebels) fired at the soldiers,” said Lt. Col. Teody Toribio, chief of the 31st battalion.

Guzman said the clash, which lasted for 10 minutes, left two Sparu members dead and two soldiers wounded.

Toribio identified one of the killed rebels as Richie Espenida alias Ka Bilog, a Sparu member reportedly involved in extortion activities.

Without the report of the concerned citizens, another innocent soldier, policemen, CAFGU or a civilian may have been gunned down,” Toribio said.

Army troops recovered a cal. 45 pistol and a mobile phone from the encounter site. Troops have been deployed to pursue the other rebels.