2 rebels slain in clash with security forces

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Philippines – Two suspected New People’s Army (NPA) guerrillas were killed in an encounter with government security forces in Malaybalay City, Bukidnon on Sunday afternoon.

Members of the Special Forces Battalion of the Armed Forces were in a military truck when the rebels reportedly shot at them in Barangay Cabangahan.

The firefight resulted in the death of two guerrillas, one of them identified as Walter Ayuban, according to Lt. Lea Porra, spokesperson for the Army’s 403rd Infantry Brigade,

Porra said Ayuban and his companions were in a truck when they waylaid the government forces at past 1 p.m.

Authorities arrested Ayuban’s wife and another passenger of the truck, and recovered a .45 caliber pistol, a grenade, medicine and subversive documents from them.