4 rebels slain in Batangas, Northern Samar encounters

CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna, Philippines — Four suspected New People Army’s (NPA) guerrillas were killed in separate clashes in Batangas and Northern Samar on Sunday, authorities reported yesterday.

The military has yet to identify the fatalities, including three in Tuy, Batangas and one in Catubig, Northern Samar.

The first encounter in Tuy broke out in Barangay Acle at around 6:30 a.m.

Soldiers of the Army’s 59th Infantry Battalion (IB) were responding to reports that a group of men were extorting and harassing residents in sitio Maligas when they encountered the insurgents.

The firefight lasted several minutes before the rebels retreated, leaving behind their two dead comrades including a woman.

A pursuit operation in nearby Barangay Bolboc resulted in another firefight that left another rebel dead.

Aside from the cadavers, soldiers recovered firearms, grenade and personal belongings at the scene of the encounters.

Meanwhile, in Northern Samar, another suspected NPA guerrilla was killed in an encounter in the town of Catubig.

Troopers of the Army’s 20th IB were conducting patrol in Barangay Hitapi-an when they encountered a group of armed men, according to Cpt. Jefferson Mariano, spokesman for the Army’s 8th Infantry Division.

The rebels retreated, leaving behind their dead comrade.

The group was reportedly behind an attempt to harass a community mobile support and sustainment team in Barangay Manering on June 1. — Arnell Ozaeta, Miriam Desacada