Soldier, 3 NPA rebels slain in Iloilo, Negros Oriental clashes

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — A soldier and three communist rebels were killed in encounters in Iloilo and Negros Oriental this week.

Pfc. Rodelo Alfanza of the 61st Infantry Battalion (IB) was killed in a clash with New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in Barangay Igpaho in Tubongan, Iloilo on Wednesday, according to the Army’s 3rd Infantry Division.

In Negros Oriental, three remnants of the Central Negros 1 guerrilla front and Komiteng Rehiyonal Negros/Cebu/Bohol/Siquijor were killed in clashes in Barangay Sag-Ang in La Castellana and Sta. Catalina towns on Thursday.

The fatalities were identified as Dionesio Baloy, 67; Bernard Torres Sr., 56, and Edmar Solano.

The military said an assault rifle, a .45-caliber pistol and a homemade 12-gauge shotgun, an M16 rifle, three magazines for an AK-47 assault rifle and ammunition for an M203 grenade launcher were recovered from the slain rebels.