8 NPA rebels slain in Negros encounter

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines – Eight New People’s Army (NPA) rebels were killed in an encounter with Army soldiers in Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental on Tuesday.

The remains of the eight rebels were turned over to the police for identification by their families.

There was no reported casualty on the side of government troopers.

Col. Michael Samson, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, said the fatalities were abandoned by their comrades following a three-hour gunbattle in Sitio Agit, Barangay Trinidad.

Samson said six M16, two M14 rifles, an M60 machine gun, an M4 rifle, an automatic pistol, magazines for an M14, two improvised explosive devices, backpacks and subversive documents were among those recovered at the scene.

He said additional troops were dispatched to help in pursuit operations while police stations and military outposts have been alerted for possible retaliation by NPA rebels. – Michael Punongbayan, Emmanuel Tupas