BUTUAN CITY – Three communist rebels died in a series of skirmishes with government troops in the fringes of Placer, Surigao del Norte, on Sunday, the 4th Infantry Division (ID) said Monday.
Before the clashes, the 4th ID said an NPA guerrilla identified as Ricky Per surrendered to the Army 30th Infantry Battalion (IB) under the 901st Infantry Brigade (IBde) on Saturday.
He immediately pinpointed a location in Barangay Bugas-Bugas where they concealed firearms, ammunition, and other war materials.
On the same day, government troops recovered from the area an M16 rifle, a rifle grenade, magazines, ammunition, bandoliers, and mobile phones.
During the recovery, another NPA member, identified as Allan Cacatian, also yielded to the Army.
During continuing operations on Sunday, 30th IB troops encountered an undetermined number of insurgents at about 8 a.m., which resulted into an armed confrontation.
Killed during the skirmish was Roderick Maco Bensing, a leader of the NPA Northeastern Mindanao Regional Committee. Another female combatant, identified as Liezl Dagohoy Mondejar, was wounded and taken to a hospital but later died.
Three hours later, another encounter occurred during which government troops discovered the body of a third female combatant. Her identity remains unknown.
“Despite their persistent recovery efforts, the NPA continues to fail in reclaiming influence over Surigao del Norte,” Brig. Gen. Arsenio Sadural, the commander of 901st IBde, said.
Pursuit operations against the communist rebels are continuing in the area. (PNA)