2 NPA rebels slain in Cagayan encounter

TUGUEGARAO CITY , Philippines — Two New People’s Army (NPA) members were killed in an encounter with military forces in Barangay Baliuag in Peñablanca, Cagayan on Thursday.

Capt. Leif Bernard Guya, Peñablanca deputy police chief, identified the male fatality as alias Jorly of Rizal, Cagayan while his comrade is confirmed to be a student of a university in Manila.

Guya, quoting information from the 502nd Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army, said soldiers who responded to an alarm at Sitio Pallay spotted at least 17 rebels.

The rebels, said to be remnants of the NPA’s Cagayan Valley regional committee, engaged the soldiers in a 20-minute gunfight.

Government troops recovered several firearms when they conducted clearing operations at the site yesterday.