Soldier hurt in clash w/ rebels

CEBU, Philippines - A soldier was slightly wounded after an encounter between members of the 61st Infantry Battalion and the New People's Army yesterday at Tapaz town in Capiz.

Private First Class Ricky Llorico sustained gunshot injury on his left foot after an exchange of gun fire around 7 a.m. at Lugutga Creek located at the boundary of Barangays Nayawan and Tacayan. He is now in stable condition.

Llorico belonged to a platoon of the 61st IB's Alpha Company that conducted combat operations when they encountered a platoon of NPA rebels under the Central Front Committee of the Komiteng Rehiyon-Panay (KR-P).

Brigadier Gen. Arnold Quiapo, commander of the 301st Infantry Brigade, said reinforcement troops were immediately sent to the area. Three hours after, another encounter occurred between the reinforcing troops and the fleeing rebels.

With the blood stains on the rebels' escape path, Quiapo believed there were at least two rebels who were wounded.

As of last military assessment, the KR-P's Central Front Committee has around 147 members. They are operating in the towns of Bingawan, Calinog, Lambunao and Janiuay in Iloilo province and Tapaz, Jamindan, Dumarao and Mambusao in Capiz. (FREEMAN)