3 soldiers killed in Isabela clashes

TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan – Three Army soldiers have been killed in clashes with New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in Jones, Isabela.

Lt. Col. Remigio Dulatre, 86th Infantry Battalion commander, said two soldiers were slain yesterday as government troopers were pursuing those who killed a soldier and wounded another in an ambush in Barangay San Sebastian on Tuesday. Two rebels were also killed.

The identities of the slain soldiers were withheld pending notification of their family members.

In Negros Occidental, two civilians were killed and three others were wounded when suspected NPA guerrillas raided a resettlement site of the Alex Boncayao Brigade in Sitio Mambinay, Barangay Locotan, Kabankalan.

The rebels also took the guns of the victims.

The government is constructing a day care center, a school and a water impounding facility in the resettlement site.

15 surrender

In Sultan Kudarat, Brig. Gen. Eliseo Rasco, Soccsksargen police director, said 15 communist insurgents surrendered in Lebak town on Tuesday.

Rasco said the surrenderees, who belonged to the NPA’s Guerrilla Front 73, turned over an M16 rifle, a .30-caliber Garand rifle,  two M14 rifles, a shotgun, two .45-caliber pistols, a 9mm, two grenade launchers and various types of ammunition to Mayor Dionesio Besana, local police and officials of the First Marine Brigade.

Meanwhile, soldiers defused three bombs found by villagers in an abandoned shanty of NPA rebels in Sitio Kabanalian, Barangay Elian, Esperanza also in Sultan Kudarat. – Gilbert Bayoran, John Unson