By Francis Wakefield
A New People’s Army (NPA) amazon and a soldier were killed while two other government troops were wounded following two separate encounters in Occidental Mindoro and Quezon province on Monday, May 8.
Maps of Occidental Mindoro (L) and Quezon Province (R) (Credits: Google Maps | Manila Bulletin)
The military identified the slain NPA amazon as “Ka Bikke.”
Major General Rhoderick Parayno, the Commander of the Army’s 2nd Division, said the NPA amazon was killed following an encounter with government troops at Sitio Tagbungan, Brgy. Barahan, Sta Cruz, Occidental Mindoro, at about 10 a.m. Monday.
It was learned that one section from the 76th Infantry Battalion were scouring the area when it clashed with more or less 30 armed NPA terrorists at around 10 a.m.
The firefight lasted for about 30 minutes afterwhich the rebels fled to different directions.
Troops also recovered a Caliber .9mm Pistol along with Improvised Explosive Device (IED) at the scene.
Meanwhile, a soldier from 1st Infantry Battalion died while two others were wounded in an encounter against undetermined number of NPAs at Sitio Little Baguio, Brgy. Magsaysay in Infanta, Quezon.
Parayno said troops encountered more or less 30 armed rebels at about 11 a.m. Monday, which lasted for about 15 minutes.
The two wounded soldiers were already brought to Camp Capinpin Station Hospital for treatment.
The names of the slain soldier and two wounded soldiers were not yet released as their respective families were not yet informed.
Parayno said the troops are still conducting pursuit operations on the said areas to track down fleeing enemies.