Soldier slain in Albay clash with New People’s Army

LEGAZPI CITY – A soldier was killed in an encounter with New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in Camalig, Albay on Monday.

Capt. Joas Pramis, 9th Infantry Division (ID) public affairs officer, identified the fatality as Cpl. Felipe Delfino Jr., 32, of Task Group Albay.

Pramis said the encounter occurred while members of the task group were conducting a peace and development program in Barangay Magogon.

Delfino was hit in the stomach and died while being treated at the UST Hospital in this city.

In Camarines Sur, NPA rebels belonging to the Bicol Regional Party Committee and soldiers of the 9th and 22nd Infantry Battalions as well as 93rd Division Reconnaissance Company clashed in Barangay Aao-ao, Ragay town also on Monday.

Three improvised explosive devices, blasting caps, a laptop, a cell phone, five backpacks and subversive documents were recovered from the rebels.

Several NPA guerrillas were believed wounded in the gunfight. There was no reported casualty on the government side.

Maj. Gen. Jesus Manangquil Jr., 9th ID commander,  alerted his men to remain vigilant against possible attacks by communist guerrillas in view of the anniversary of the NPA tomorrrow.

“With these continuing attacks and atrocities…against our troops who are protecting the people in far-flung areas against extortion and intimidation…it is an accurate tag by President Duterte that the NPA is as a terrorist organization,” Manangquil said.