SEVEN New People’s Army (NPA) died after a clash with government troops in Pantabangan town in Nueva Ecija on Wednesday afternoon, the military reported yesterday.
Eleven firearms were also seized during the military operation against members of the NPA’s Komiteng Rehiyong Gitnang Luzon (Central Luzon Committee), the Army’s 703rd Brigade said.
A week earlier, the military subjected to an “aerial operation” the rebel group’s camp in Barangay Abuyo in Alfonso Castaneda in Nueva Vizcaya. The operation led to the recovery of rebel supplies.
Pursuing troops from the Army’s 84th Infantry Battalion caught up with some 20 rebels between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. on Wednesday in Barangay Malbang in Pantabangan.
Maj. Jimson Masangkay, spokesman of the Army’s 7th Infantry Division, said the soldiers and the rebels traded fire for at least 20 minutes.
During clearing operation, the troops recovered at the encounter site 10 high-powered firearms, composed of seven M16 rifles (one of them with an M203 grenade launcher) and three M14 rifles).
Also recovered were a low-powered firearm, rebel documents, and personal belongings.
Masangkay said they have yet to establish the identities of the slain rebels.
No one was reported killed or injured on the military side during the encounter.
