A local leader of the New People’s Army (NPA) and two soldiers were killed while another Army man was wounded in a series of encounters in Quezon on Friday.
The military report identified the slain rebel as Ronnel Batarlo alias Marwin who was killed during the clash at Sitio Pung-uy, Brgy Masaya in Buenavista town in Quezon.
Recovered from him were an M16 rifle and an M203 grenade launcher.
Another encounter occurred in Sitio Hinapay, Barangay San Roque Agro in Catanauan town where two soldiers belonging to the Army’s 85th Infantry Battalion pursuing the fleeing rebels from Buenavista town were killed.
Their names are being withheld pending notification of their families.
"Nalulungkot kami sa pagkawala ng aming kasamahan, ngunit samasaludo kami sa kanilang katapangan at kabayanihan. Inalay nila ang kanilang buhay sa paglilingkod sa bayan upang magkaroon ng tunay na kapayapaan dito sa probinsya ng Quezon," said Brig. Gen. Norwyn Romeo Tolentino, commander of the 201st Infantry Brigade.
The military is placed on high alert during the on-going pursuit operations against the fleeing terrorists.