Two soldiers and a militiaman were killed while an officer was reported missing in a running encounter with communist insurgents in Compostela Valley Friday afternoon, the military reported yesterday.
The identities of the fallen soldiers were still withheld pending the notification of their immediate families and relatives.
Lt. Col. Kurt Decapia of the 1003rd Infantry Brigade, said Special Forces elements were conducting combat operations at Sitio Anagase, Casoon in Monkayo at about 8:30 a.m. Friday when they stumbled upon and overran an NPA camp in the area after intense fighting.
However, in the afternoon the same day, troops tasked to secure the rebel camp came under attack from an overwhelming rebel force.
Outnumbered, the troops, all members of the 3rd Special Forces Battalion, held their ground, Decapia said.
This despite three of their colleagues have already been fatally hit and one of their officers missing, Decapia added.
“At present, our troops are on pursuit operations,” Decapia said.
Relatedly, an Air Force combat force killed a top communist rebel in an encounter in Batangas on Friday.
The slain rebel leader was identified as Danilo Mayo alias Ka Abet, NPA platoon leader operating in the western part of the province.
Capt. Peter Carceniego Jr. 2002nd Army Brigade spokesman said Mayo who was rescued his comrades from jail three years ago following his capture in Mindoro, was with 10 heavily armed followers incuding two amazons when elements of the 730th Combat Group cornered him at Barangay Talibayog in Calatagan town at about 9:30 a.m. triggering a 30 minute fighting.
Recovered from the encounter site were one M-16 rifle, four military backpacks, several magazines with ammunitions for M-16 rifle, a rifle grenade, a hand grenade and several subversive documents.