A rebel member was killed in a clash with military troops in Occidental Mindoro on Saturday.
According to Colonel Jeffrex Molina, spokesperson for the Philippine Army’s 2nd Infantry Division (2ID), the 68th Infantry Battalion (68IB) received a tip about armed individuals in the area and conducted a patrol. This led to a 20-minute firefight after the group opened fire.
One NPA fighter was killed, while government forces reported no casualties.
The troops recovered two M16 rifles, ammunition, improvised explosives, and documents.
Maj. Gen. Cerilo Balaoro Jr. commended the troops, emphasizing the encounter’s significance in thwarting NPA plans and urging the group to join the government’s reintegration program for peace.
“As I keep on telling them, grab the opportunity to live normally through the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP),” Maj. Gen. Balaoro stated.
Recently, the terrorist group has suffered major setbacks due to the arrest of their leaders, the discovery of arms caches, and an increasing number of areas declared as stable in terms of internal peace and security.
