Lt. Col. Preme Monta, spokesman of the Armed Forces’ Northern Luzon Command, said the running gunbattle started in Barangay Salu, said to be a stronghold of the New People’s Army (NPA), and ended in Barangay Masle in Guagua town.
Monta said elements of the Army’s 69th Infantry Battalion and the Air Force Special Operations Group chanced upon the suspected rebels while in a mission in the area.
The slain soldier was identified only as a certain Pfc. Carpio. The rebel fatality was reportedly an Aeta.
After the firefight, soldiers recovered a M-16 rifle, a shotgun, a rifle grenade, a caliber .38 revolver and assorted ammunition. — Ric Sapnu, Benjie Villa and James Mananghaya