Soldier killed in Quezon clash with Reds

TAGKAWAYAN, Quezon, Philippines — An Army detachment commander was killed in an encounter with around 30 New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in Quezon on Friday.

Cpl. Rene Belga was with a group of soldiers of the 22nd Infantry Battalion on their way to conduct civil-military operations in Barangay Maguibuay in this town when the communist guerrillas opened fire at around 1:30 p.m.

The NPA rebels also reportedly detonated an improvised explosive device.

The military said an undetermined number of rebels were wounded in the clash, citing bloodstains in their escape route. — Ed Amoroso