SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union – Two New People’s Army rebels were killed, four others were wounded, and one was captured in an encounter in the vicinity of Barangay Estrella, Rizal, Nueva Ecija last Thursday.
Major Gen. Lenard T. Agustin, commander of the Army 7th Infantry Division based in Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija, said authorities received a report from residents about the presence of seven armed New People’s Army rebels under the Komiteng Larangang Gerilya Sierra Madre reportedly conducting extortion activities in the area.
The Army 84th Infantry Battalion and the 69th IB and the Nueva Ecija Provincial Police Office were deployed to confirm the report.
Agustin said they chanced upon the rebels at around 2:30 p.m., triggering a fierce firefight.
Lt. Col. Honorato Pascual Jr., commander of the 84th IB, said encounter lasted for 15 minutes. Two NPA rebels were killed, four were wounded, and one was captured, he said.
Pascual said that the government troops recovered from the encounter site two M-16 Armalite rifles with 15 magazines, three caliber .45 pistols, one hand grenade, two handheld radios, 14 cellular phones, one Samsung tablet, and subversive documents.
“Our troops were immediately gave first aid treatment to the wounded rebels before they were taken o the nearest hospital for their full treatment and recovery,” said Pascual. (Freddie Lazaro)