Two NPA rebels killed in Compostela Valley

ZAMBOANGA CITY — Two communist guerrillas were killed while an undertermined number were wounded when a platoon of government troopers engaged rebels in a 15-minute firefight yesterday morning in Sitio Kiarong, Barangay Kasoon, Monkayo town, Compostela Valley province.

The government troops captured the rebels’ M-79 grenade launcher and ammunition during the gunbattle

Maj. Bob Bacarro, deputy chief for information of the Southern Command said the soldiers of the 60th Infantry Battalion swooped down on the village after 15 members of the New People’s Army (NPA) were monitored planning to conduct an attack.

Bacarro said the troops caught up with the rebels, who were under the command of Commander Severino Aga, alias Pendaton, about 6:45 a.m.

Two rebels were killed on the spot while the the rest of the rebels escaped.

The troops recovered one 40mm grenade launcher five rounds of ammunition and also subversive documents and personal belongings of the rebels.

As of press time, military authorities have not identified the casualties pending investigation of the incident.

The military’s Southern Command, recently reumed its operations against communist insurgents in northern Mindanao after a month-long election security operation.

Meanwhile, at least seven members of the New People’s Army (NPA) Milisya ng Bayan Alimaong of Front Committee 88 reportedly surrendered to the government in Agusan del Sur on Wednesday morning. —With Ben Serrano