NPA slain as soldiers rescue 2 village execs

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – A suspected New People’s Army (NPA) rebel was killed in an encounter with Army troopers who were rescuing two barangay officials the rebel group ambushed in Toril district in this city yesterday.

Reports from the Army’s 10th Infantry Division said village chief Generoso Bacalso of Barangay Daliaon and a councilman were traveling on a motorcycle when the rebels waylaid them in Barangay Alambre.

Bacalso suffered a gunshot wound in the hand while his companion managed to escape.

Troops from the 84th Infantry Battalion (IB) were passing by the area and were able to rescue the officials.

A firefight erupted between the troopers and the insurgents, which resulted in the killing of a rebel and recovery of an M16 rifle.

Meanwhile, a suspected rebel killed in an encounter in Butuan City, Agusan del Norte last Thursday has been identified.

Capt. Angelo Gomez, spokesman for the 29th IB, said a certain Angelita Logronio, 55, identified the body as that of her son, Reynaldo, 21.

Logronio told police her family had been trying to locate Reynaldo, whom she said bid her goodbye to join his sister in Manila.

She said it turned out her son joined the underground movement.

Reynaldo was killed in an encounter in Barangay Anticala on Dec. 3. His body was brought to a funeral parlor in Barangay Ampayon.

Troops recovered rifles, improvised explosive devices and backpacks at the scene of the encounter.