The bodies of two suspected communist rebels killed in a recent encounter between the military and the New People's Army (NPA) in Zamboanga del Norte have been found.
Col. Leonel Nicolas, commander of 102nd Infantry Brigade, said the communist rebels were positively identified by their former comrades who have surrendered to authorities.
However, the names of the slain rebels were not disclosed by Nicolas.
One of the cadavers was found during a clearing operation after combined elements of the 44th, 97th, and 42nd Infantry Battalions clashed with suspected NPAs in the forested area of Purok 5, Barangay Batayan, Kalawit last Friday.
The second body was discovered last Saturday just as troops were in hot pursuit of the fleeing rebels, Nicolas said.
Soldiers seized an M16 rifle, an AK47 assault rifle, several ammunitions, medicines, propaganda materials, and personal belongings of the rebels in the encounter site.
Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, commander of the Armed Forces Western Mindanao Command, lauded the troops for continuously securing the communities against insurgents while in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Rest assured that our efforts to disallow the enemies to thrive in the communities will never falter," Sobejana vowed.