Army officer slain in NPA clash

CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna, Philippines  – An Army officer was killed in an encounter with suspected New People’s Army (NPA) guerrillas in San Jose, Occidental Mindoro on Sunday.

First Lt. Mike Nollora, chief of the Army’s 4th Infantry Battalion-Bravo Company, died while being treated at a hospital.

Reports said Nollora and his men were on patrol in Baragay Batasan when they clashed with at least 10 rebels.

On Friday night, Pfcs. Jay Lozano and Ferrie John Garcia, both of the Philippine Air Force, were killed in an ambush by suspected rebels in Calaca, Batangas.

The soldiers were on a motorcycle on their way to their patrol base in Barangay Coral ni Lopez when the insurgents waylaid them at past 7 p.m.