CAMP BANCASI, Butuan City – A New People’s Army (NPA) rebel was killed, while another was captured, in a gun battle between the Communist insurgents and government troops belonging to the 58th Infantry Battalion (58thIB) in the hinterlands of Barangay Silo-o, Malitbog, Bukidnon province on Tuesday.
According to 58th IB commanding officer Lt. Col. Ricky Canatoy, while his troops were checking the reported presence of an armed group in the hinterland of Barangay Silo-o, in Malitbog town, they encountered around 20 heavily armed rebels at around 6 a.m. on Tuesday.
This resulted in the death of an NPA fighter, and the capture of another, who was wounded in the encounter.
The NPA fatality was identified as certain “Aka Macdong”, member of Special Partisan Unit (SPARU) of the Sub-Regional Committee 1 (SRC1) of the CPP-NPA North Central Mindanao, Regional Committee (NCMRC), Canatoy said in his report.
The 58th IB commander identified the captured wounded rebel as certain “Neri”, whose true name withheld for security reasons. He was a member of Platoon Ryan, Motorola, SRC1, NCMRC.
“He is now recuperating at the military hospital in Camp Edilberto Evangalista, Cagayan de Oro City,” the Army officer said.
Seized after the encounter site were two M16 Armalite rifles, one KG-9, several magazines, live ammunition, assorted medical supplies, personal belongings, and subversive documents, the 58th IB commander added.
Hot pursuit operations against the fleeing Communist terrorists were still ongoing as of press time.