NPA rebel killed in encounter

By Mar S. Arguelles

LEGAZPI CITY --- A suspected New People’s Army guerilla was killed on Monday in a clash with Army troopers in Barangay Gangao, Baleno town in Masbate, report reaching the Philippine National Police (PNP) regional office here said. The identity of the slain NPA rebel is still being determined as his remains will be brought to the municipal police station for documentation and identification, the report said. The incident happened at about 5:41 a.m. Monday, July 31, when Army troopers from the 22 Infantry Battalion while on combat patrol engaged 15 suspected NPA rebels in a firefight in the said village. The firefight that lasted for about 20 minutes resulted in the death of one of the suspected rebels and the recovery of an M16 rifle. Hot pursuit operations by the government troopers followed.