Lt. Col. Preme Monta, spokesman of the Armed Forces’ Northern Luzon Command (Nolcom), said the first clash erupted between elements of the Army’s 54th Infantry Battalion and New People’s Army (NPA) guerrillas in Barangay Saca-Sacan in Sadanga town.
A guerrilla identified as Edfew Dedya-as sustained several gunshot wounds in the firefight. He reportedly died while being transported by soldiers to a nearby hospital.
Monta quoted 2Lt. Edward Sia-ed, head of a 54th IB composite platoon, as saying that villagers saw the retreating rebels drag the bodies of their fallen comrades.
Meanwhile, in Bontoc town, also in Mt. Province, another suspected NPA rebel was killed in an encounter with a combined team of the 54th and 45th IBs and the 53rd Reconnaissance Company, in Barangay Mainit.
Also slain in the clash was Cpl. Richard Pattaguan, of the 53rd Reconnaissance Company. — With Artemio Dumlao and James Mananghaya