2 troopers slain in rebel encounter

DAVAO CITY, Philippines  – Two Army soldiers were killed while another was wounded in an encounter with suspected New People’s Army (NPA) guerrillas in Monkayo, Compostela Valley on Saturday afternoon.

Cpl. Byron Moreno and Pfc. Thon Katog, both of the Army’s 25th Infantry Battalion, were part of a team conducting patrols in Barangay Casoon, where the firefight occurred.

The soldiers reportedly encountered at least 60 rebels led by a certain “Lupe” and “Ka Jinggoy” of the NPA’s Pulang Bagani Command 4-Southern Mindanao Regional Command. 

A report from the Armed Forces Eastern Mindanao Command said a soldier was wounded in the firefight that lasted 25 minutes.

The military deployed additional troops to pursue the rebels.     – With Alexis Romero