Troops, NPAs clash in Abra, Isabela; 1 dead

One soldier was killed and two more wounded in separate encounters with New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in the northern provinces of Isabela and Abra last weekend.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines-Northern Luzon Command (AFPNoLCom), said the first encounter took place at about 12:50 p.m. Sunday in Barangay Alangitan, Tubo, Abra, where two soldiers were wounded in battle against 10 rebels from the NPA’s Kilusang Larangan Gerilya (KLG) Montes.

The two troopers from the 24th Infantry Battalion of the army’s 5th Infantry Division were already recuperating at a hospital.

On the other hand the encounter that broke out at 2:07 p.m. Sunday in Sitio Minanga, Barangay San Carlos, Echague, Isabela, resulted in the death of a soldier from the army’s 86th Infantry Battalion.

Troops are continuing its hot pursuit operation against the 30 rebels from NPA’s Komiteng Rehiyon-Hilagang Silangang Luzon (KR-HSL) Central Front involved in the battle.