LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines – A New People’s Army (NPA) guerrilla was killed and four soldiers were wounded during an encounter in Tubgon village in Oas, Albay yesterday.
Col. Generoso Bolina, spokesman for the Southern Luzon Command, said the soldiers were wounded when the rebels detonated a landmine.
Brig.Gen. Ricardo Visaya, 901st Infantry Brigade commanding officer, said the soldiers and their police counterparts were conducting combat patrol amid extortion complaints by residents when the clash occured at around 9 a.m.
A .45-caliber pistol and fragmentation grenade were recovered from the slain rebel identified as a certain Ka Boy, according to Superintendent Renato Bataller, Bicol police spokesman.
A manhunt for the rebels is underway. – Cet Dematera, Celso Amo, Jaime Laude, Francis Elevado