Soldier dies as troops overrun NPA camp

ZAMBOANGA, Philippines — Government troops overran a camp of the communist rebels following an encounter in a remote village of Bayog town in Zamboanga del Sur, military said Friday.

The encounter left a soldier killed and an undetermined number of suspected New's People Army (NPA) members wounded.

Capt. Franco Salvador Suelto, spokesperson of 1st Army Division Joint Task Force Zampelan, said troops from the 32nd Infantry Battalion encountered Wednesday morning guerillas from the NPA's Section Committee Feliciano at Sitio Sabangan of Dumalinao village.

He said the NPA camp was located in the deep forested areas of the provincial boundary between Zamboanga del Sur and Zamboanga del Norte.

Suleto said an hour-long gun battle ensued, resulting in the recovery of the NPA-run area and several allegedly subversive documents left by retreating rebels.

"This is a clear indication that [NPA rebels] are encamping in uninhabited areas because they already lost the support of the local populace in their traditional areas due to continuous Bayanihan (Peace and Development) activities," Suelto said.

Brig. Gen. Gerardo Barrientos fo the 1st Army Division encouraged the troops to continue the relentless pursuit of NPA rebels in the area.

Barrientos also condoled with the family of the unnamed, slain soldier whom he said "made the ultimate sacrifice in name of peace and development."