13 NPAs, 2 soldiers slain in clashes

At least 13 New People’s Army (NPA) guerrillas and two Army soldiers were killed in clashes in the provinces of Quezon, Albay and Sorsogon, the military said.

Reports reaching Camp Aguinaldo said elements of the Army’s 74th Infantry Battalion encountered NPA rebels rehearsing for an offensive in Barangay San Isidro in San Narciso, Quezon Saturday, triggering a firefight that left seven guerrillas and a soldier, Pfc. Adriel Manzano, dead. Another soldier, Lt. Jeffrey Bugnosen, was critically wounded.

Last Thursday, government troops seized a cache of explosives following a raid on a rebel hideout in Barangay Bagon, Sariaya town.

Meanwhile, in the Bicol region, six rebels and a soldier were killed in a series of encounters in Sorsogon and Albay over the weekend.

Col. Nur Ascalani, commanding officer of the 901st Infantry Brigade based in Daraga, Albay, said men of the 9th Infantry Battalion encountered 21 rebels who were planning to attack their special operations team in Castilla, Sorsogon Saturday afternoon.

A three-hour firefight ensued, resulting in the killing of five rebels and the wounding of 2Lt. Webin Ebeda and Pfcs. Rocky Belda, Zaldy Bengua and Daniel Awingan, who were hit by a landmine.

The military subsequently overran the rebels’ camp in Barangay Lungib and seized a cache of firearms, ammunition and explosives.

Earlier in the day, combat troops of the 65th Infantry Battalion clashed with 10 rebels in Barangay Balolo in Guinobatan, Albay. Army Pfc. Raymund Villanueva was killed in the three-minute firefight. — Celso Amo, James Mananghaya, Jaime Laude and Arnell Ozaeta