2 NPAs slain in clash with soldiers in South Cotabato
KORONADAL CITY– Two members of communist rebels
were killed in a clash with government forces in a remote village in South
Cotabato early Friday, police here said.
Senior Inspector Joven Bagaygay,
police chief of Lake Sebu, South Cotabato, said government forces were
conducting foot patrol in sitio Lamtapok, Barangay Ned, Lake Sebu before dawn
when they chanced upon about 9 heavily armed members of the New Peoples’ Army’s
Front 73 at 6 a.m.
A 20-minute fire fight erupted that
left two NPAs killed, Bagaygay said. No
casualty on the government side, according to team leader Army 2Lt. Glen
Gautane.
The Army received reports about the
presence of armed men in Sitio Lamtapok and they conducted foot patrol before
the clash,” Bagaygay told Radyo Bida-Koronadal.The remains
of fallen communist rebels were brought to a funeral parlor in Surallah, South
Cotabato awaiting claimants.
Government forces, Bagaygay said,
recovered one AK-47 rifle and M-14 automatic rifle and ammunition from slain
rebels.
Lt. Colonel Benjamin Leander, 27th
IB commanding officer, said the rebels should cease from harassing and
extorting money from villagers especially now that government efforts to a
peaceful settlement has started at the top level.