5 rebels killed in San Carlos encounter
Five members of News People's Army (NPA), the armed group the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), died on the spot after engaging in a gunfight with the elements of the 11th Infantry Batallion, Philippine Army at Brgy. Quezon, San Carlos City, Negros Occidental around 10 p.m. Wednesday night.
The military identified one of the casualties as Ka Atoy, platoon leader of Larangan Guerilla 3, Komiteng Rehiyon-Negros allegedly operating in the area.
Lt. Col. David Tan, Public Information Officer of the Philippine Army's 3rd Infantry Division, in a press release reported that the army troops were conducting combat operations in the area in response to information they got that certain armed men were conducting extortion activities when the gunbattle ensued.
Reports reaching Police Regional Office 6 in Camp Delgado said the military flagged down the suspects on board a car for a checkpoint but instead of stopping, the car's passengers opened fire prompting the army to retaliate.
The firefight reportedly lasted for about ten minutes after which the other rebels scampered to different directions.
Authorities could not determine the actual number of the alleged rebels.
Tan's report said five high-powered firearms--two M-16 rifles, one FAL, one M-14, and one Garand--including subversive documents of high intelligence value were recovered from the site of the encounter.
Meanwhile, nobody was reported hurt on the part of government troops.
The NPA, on the other hand, has yet to issue a statement on the incident.
(With reports from Double R of RMN DYRI 774)