A New People's Army guerilla was killed as government troops assaulted and subsequently captured a rebel camp in the hinterlands of the southern Philippine province of Davao Oriental Monday morning, the military said.
Col. Leopoldo Galon, spokesman of the military's Eastern Mindanao Command, said a platoon or about 30 soldiers from the elite 6th Scout Ranger Company attacked the rebel lair at Caninag village around 8:30 a.m.
"They were caught by surprise," said Galon of the insurgents, who were numbering about 70 men. "Although superior in number, the rebels retreated after about an hour of fighting," the official said.
During clearing operation, the soldiers recovered the rebel body and two M-16 rifles.
He said there are indications that the rebels suffered more casualties as evidenced by bloods on their route of withdrawal,
Galon said the soldiers were still scouring the capture rebel camp as of Monday afternoon.
Lt. Col. Reuben Basiao, commander of the Army's 67th Infantry Battalion, said the soldiers learned of the enemy lair through information from the civilians.
"I sent a platoon of soldiers belonging to the 6th Scout Ranger Company together with a platoon from my battalion to check the information provided by the civilians.
The clash erupted when the rebels started firing as my soldiers approached the reported location," Basiao said.
The NPA, the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines, was formed on March 29, 1969. Latest military estimates placed the NPA's strength at more than 4,000.
Editor: An
English.news.cn 2011-11-28 15:46:13 FeedbackPrintRSS
MANILA, Nov. 28 (Xinhua)
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