Two New People’s Army rebels were killed in an encounter with the Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit in Esperanza, Agusan del Sur last Sunday.
Capt. Al Anthony B. Pueblas, civil-military officer of the Army 402nd Brigade, identified the NPA casualties as Juan Precioso, alias “Max,” 59, and Dondon Montilla alias “Amag,” 23.
They are believed to be members of the Guerrilla Front 88 of the North Central Mindanao Regional Command.
Pueblas said the Tandang Sora Patrol Base, 3rd Platoon, 6th Agusan del Sur CAFGU Active Auxiliary Company under the supervision of the Army 23rd Infantry Battalion, 4th Infantry Division, were conducting security patrol in Purok 4, Barangay Oro at about 5 a.m. in response to reports from residents on the presence of suspected NPA rebels when they chanced upon the insurgents.
A five-minute clash broke out in which two NPA rebels were killed.
Pueblas said recovered near their bodies was a 9mm pistol with a magazine loaded with several rounds of ammunition.
Government troops brought their bodies to the village center where they were identified by residents and turned over to local officials for proper disposition.
Nobody from the government side was reported wounded in the firefight. (Francis T. Wakefield)
