Soldier dead in clash with NPA rebels in Zamboanga del Sur

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – A soldier was killed in an encounter with New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in Sitio Sabangan, Barangay Dumalinao in Bayog, Zamboanga del Sur on Wednesday, the military said yesterday.

Soldiers from the 32nd Infantry Battalion recovered an NPA camp after the hour-long clash, Capt. Franco Salvador Suelto, spokesman for the 1st Army Division Joint Task Force Zampelan, said. 

Suelto said the NPA camp was in a forested area at the boundary of Zamboanga del Sur and Zamboanga del Norte.

“This is an indication that they are encamping in uninhabited areas because they already lost the support of the people due to continuous Bayanihan (peace and development) activities,” he said.

Brig. Gen. Gerardo Barrientos, 1st Army Division chief, ordered the troops to hunt down NPA rebels in the area.