TAGKAWAYAN, Quezon – Five members of the Citizen’s Armed Forces Geographical Unit-Active Auxiliary (CAA) were killed and three were wounded, including a soldier, in an encounter with the New People's Army (NPA) on Friday morning, September 1, in Sitio Pag-Asa, Barangay Mapulot, this town.
The military identified the fatalities as Cesar Sales, Jeffrey San Antonio, Aljon Ropa, Johnwen Perez, and Jomari Guno.
Wounded were CAAs Lauro de Guzman and Regie Macalintal and Army Corporal Marvinjun Oller Jr. of the 85th Infantry Battalion.
Initial report said a squad of the CAA Detachment Mapulot under the 85th IB led by Oller were patrolling the area when they encountered some 70 heavily armed rebels.
The gun battle is ongoing as of posting time.