2 rebels dead in fight

Two New People’s Army rebels and a government militiaman were killed in a firefight in Loreto town in Agusan del Sur on Thursday afternoon, a military official reported Friday.

Only one slain rebel, a woman, was recovered by government troops during clearing operations, said Captain Joe Patrick Martinez, public affairs officer of the Army’s 4th Infantry Division.

Martinez said the other rebel fatality, a male, was seen by civilian witnesses being dragged by his fleeing comrades.

He said the same civilians saw several rebels wounded in the fighting.

Martinez said the firefight broke out around 1:30 p.m. in Sitio Mandanao in Barangay Binucayan involving troops from the Army’s 26th Infantry Battalion and undetermined number of rebels.