ILOILO CITY – A New People’s Army (NPA) rebel was killed in an encounter with soldiers on Sunday, December 10, in Lambunao town, Iloilo province.

The Army 3rd Infantry Division (ID) has yet to identify the fatality.
Troops from the 31st Division Reconnaissance Company (DRC) under the 301st Infantry Brigade (IB) were pursuing fleeing rebels after a gun battle on Saturday when they engaged five communist guerrillas in Sitio Tagbakan 1, Barangay Jayubo.
One NPA fighter was killed in the firefight that lasted for five minutes.
Lt. Col. J-Jay Javines, 3rd ID Public Affairs Office chief, said a homemade shotgun was recovered from the slain rebel.
Major General Marion Sison, 3ID commanding general, symphatized with the family of the fatality.
“I don’t want another life to be wasted because of the false ideologies. I don’t want to see families suffering from the loss of their loved ones, especially this Christmas,” said Sison.
Troops recovered in Saturday's gun battle a bandolier with five magazines for an M16 rifle and subversive documents.