ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – Three New People’s Army (NPA) rebels were killed in an encounter with soldiers in Senator Ninoy Aquino, Sultan Kudarat on Thursday.
Government troopers belonging to the 7th Infantry Battalion led by Lt. Francis Andrew Villasis were conducting security patrol when they encountered the rebels in Sitio Isuko in Barangay Banali at around 12:45 p.m.
The fatalities were reportedly under the group of an alias Ben of the NPA’s East Daguma Front of the Far South Mindanao Region.
The rebel group was said to be behind the collection of so-called revolutionary tax from villagers in Senator Ninoy Aquino and Bagumbayan towns.
Col. Richard Verceles, operations chief of Area Police Command-Western Mindanao, said responding policemen recovered the remains of the rebels who have yet to be identified.
Three M16 rifles with ammunition, bandoleers, backpacks, groceries and batteries were among those reportedly recovered from the fatalities.– John Unson