3 NPA rebels killed in Compostela Valley clash
MANILA, Philippines — After a brief firefight against members of the New People’s Army in Compostella Valley Wednesday morning, the Armed Forces of the Philippines confirmed three deaths on the side of the insurgents.
According to Lieutenant Colonel Ramon Zagala, chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Public Affairs Office, the 10-minute skirmish began at 9:30 am at Sitio (sub-village) Tibungco, Montevista, Compostela Valley Province.
Soldiers from the 25th Infantry Brigade recovered a nine-millimeter pistol and three backpacks from the killed NPA members.
Captain Ernest Carolina, spokesman of the Army’s 10th Infantry Division, said that government troops were scouring the area of a newly-abandoned encampment when the clash erupted.
“Civilian residents told us that there were members of the NPA who were in the area and conducting extortion activities on the local residents so the troops came in to investigate,” Carolina said.
No casualties were reported from the side of the Army.
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