LEGAZPI CITY – Three guerillas were killed during a running gunbattle between a group of heavily armed New People’s Army rebels and elements of the 31st Infantry Batallion in Barangays Magsaysay and Alayco in Capalonga town in Camarines Norte Friday morning, the Army said.
Major General Jefrey Sodusta, commanding general of the 9th Infantry Division based at Camp Elias in Pili town, Camarines Sur, said the three rebels who died during a 30-minute firefight were part of a 20-man rebel band belonging to the Guerilla Front Committee 72.
Recovered on the scene of the encounter were two M-14 rifles and one M-16 rifles as well as bandolier, ammunition and backpacks containing subversive communist propaganda materials and personal belongings.
Hot pursuit operation is still going on against the rebel group while elements of the 503 Police Provincial Mobile Group were also conducting blocking operation on the possible escape route of the fleeing rebels.
The bodies of the slain rebels were brought to Capalong police station for identification.
Sodusta said relentless combat operation is being conducted by the 902nd Brigade based in Labo, Camarines Norte under Col. Carlos Luces and the 901st Brigade under Col. Ariel Bernardo based in Daraga, Albay to keep the NPA rebels in Bicol on the run.
Sodusta said some guerilla fronts in Bicol are now being targeted to be dismantled this year. The commanding general added that Front Committee 74 in Camarines Sur as well as Front Committee 79 codename Hilo in Sorsogon were dismantled last year.