Communist rebel killed in Ifugao

MANILA, Philippines - A communist rebel was killed in a firefight with Army troops in Ifugao province Wednesday morning, a military official said.

Maj. Calixto Cadano, Jr., acting spokesman of the Army’s 5th division, said members of the 54th battalion were patrolling Barangay Damag in Aguinaldo town when they encountered an undetermined number of rebels at about 5:30 a.m.

A clash that lasted for almost an hour ensued, leaving one member of the New People’s Army (NPA) dead.

There was no casualty on the side of the government troops. Authorities are still determining the identity of the slain rebel.

“A number of NPA rebels were seen withdrawing from the  area carrying with them their injured comrades as reported by villagers,” Cadano said.

Soldiers recovered a bandolier with six short magazines for M16, rifle grenade, and an improvised antenna for handheld radio.

Cadano said the rebels had used civilians as human shields during the encounter.

“The presence of the NPA was reported by the civilians in the area who have grown tired and disgusted because of continued extortion activities of the NPA remnants in their barangay,” said Lt. Col. Eddie Pilapil, chief of the Army’s 54th battalion.

There are about 4,000 communist fighters in the country based on latest military estimates. – (with reports from Venice Amoroso and Anna Bajo)