LEGAZPI CITY, Albay – Three New People's Army rebels, including a commander, were killed in two encounters in Camarines Sur and Masbate on Monday, July 8.
COMMUNIST paraphernalia were recovered in an encounter in Tinambac, Camarines Sur on Monday, July 8. (9th ID)
Major Frank Roldan, chief of the 9th Infantry Division Public Affairs Office, said that a commander of the Front Operational Command of the Sub-Regional Committee-2 of the NPA was killed in a gunbattle with the 83rd Infantry Battalion and Philippine National Police in Barangay San Ramon, Tinambac, Camarines Sur at around 9 a.m.
The slain NPA leader was identified as Vergel Balcueva, alias Disan, Joey, and James. Balcueva faced various charges.
Recovered in the encounter with eight communist rebels who fled after the gun battle that lasted for 10 minutes were an M16 rifle and personal belongings.
Roldan said they expect more NPA rebels to surrender in the next few months due to the losses that they have sustained in the battlefield. One NPA leader was recently killed in a gunfight with government troops in Sorsogon.
The second encounter happened in Barangay San Roque, Esperanza, Masbate.
Roldan said troops from the 2nd IB encountered eight members of the Komiteng Larangang Guerilla-South, Sub-regional Committee 4.
He said the fatalities’ comrades left behind their bodies and weapons such as an M653 rifle, caliber .38 revolver, and personal belongings after a 15-minute encounter.
The slain rebels have yet to be identified, said Roldan.