NPA leader slain in Negros clash

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — An intelligence officer of the New People’s Army (NPA)’s Komiteng Rehiyonal-Negros-Cebu-Bohol-Siquijor was killed in an encounter with soldiers in Isabela, Negros Occidental on Friday.

Brig. Gen. Benedict Arevalo, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, identified the fatality as Rassim Chanco, 27.

Ernesto Amallo, who admitted to be the squad leader of the rebel group, was wounded in the clash and arrested.

A 9 mm pistol, two radio handsets, a rifle grenade, a 50-meter tripwire of an improvised explosive device, subversive documents, a medical kit, two solar panels and 15 backpacks, which contained personal belongings, were among those recovered at the scene.

Six women found at the encounter site were invited for questioning by the Isabela police.