NPA killed in Sarangani clash with military

ALABEL, Sarangani – A New People’s Army (NPA) rebel was killed in a firefight with soldiers who were providing security to medical personnel dispatched to contain a measles outbreak in a mountain village in Malapatan town.

First Lt. Leah Canseran, civil military operations officer of 1002nd Infantry Brigade, said soldiers belonging to 73rd Infantry Battalion were escorting personnel from the Integrated Provincial Health Office to Barray Upper Suyan, Malapatan when they were waylaid by five suspected Communist rebels in hinterland village of Barangay Kihan, Malapatan over the weekend.

Canseran identified the slain NPA rebel as Sue Boding, an alleged member of NPA Guerilla Front 71 and a resident of Barangay Little Baguio, Malita, Davao Occidental.

“The firefight lasted for 20 minutes which resulted in the death of one NPA rebel,” Canseran said.

Troops recovered a .45 caliber pistol from the slain suspect.

Sarangani Governor Steve Solon had earlier sought the assistance of the military to serve as escort for the medical personnel he dispatched to contain an outbreak of measles in Barangay Upper Suyan which had killed at least 20 children and hospitalized 100 others.

Provincial officer Arvin alejandro said some 1,500 children in Barangay Upper Suyan have been vaccinated to prevent the spread of the epidemic to nearby villages.