NPA rebel killed

CAMP BANCASI, Butuan City – A New People’s Army (NPA) terrorist was killed while several other rebels were wounded during an encounter with the Army’s 30th Infantry (Python) Battallion (30th IB) in Sitio Puyawon, Barangay Mahanub, Gigaquit, Surigao del Norte.

Capt. Regie H. Go, Public Affairs Office (PAO) officer of the Army’s Northeastern and Northern Mindanao 4th Infantry (Diamond) Division (4th ID) said elements of 30th IB are still pursuing the fleeing rebels in upper Puyawon area also of Gigaquit town.

The 30th IB troops were responding to reports from local villagers that NPA terrorists were allegedly extorting from the people when they encountered on Tuesday some 30 heavily armed Communist New people’s Army Terrorists (CNTs) believed to be members of SYP 16-C, Guerilla Front 16 (GF 16) of the CPP-NPA Northeastern Mindanao Regional Committee (NEMRC) under certain “Commander Jacob.”

The CNTs fled after a 30-minute fierce gunfight after sensing that they were outnumbered and there was incoming reinforcements from the 30th IB advance command post.

“The firefight lasted for about thirty minutes after which the enemy scampered to different directions leaving one dead NPA, one M16 Armalite rifle, three long magazines for M16 rifle, fifty-six rounds of 5.56mm ammunition, one anti-personnel mine (APM), one blasting cap, five meters electrical wire, one backpack, one bandoleer and five meters utility rope,” Capt. Go added.