3 NPA rebels killed in predawn Batangas clash

Three suspected communist New People's Army (NPA) insurgents were killed in a predawn encounter with government troops in Batangas province Thursday, a military spokesman said. In a text message to media, Army spokesman Maj. Ronald Jess Alcudia cited a report from the Second Infantry Division (ID) saying that the clash occurred at Sitio Tagusan in Taysan town's Mabayabas village. Alcudia said elements from the Philippine Air Force's 74Oth combat group under the Army's 202nd Brigade clashed with around 2O NPA rebels at 4:45 a.m., resulting in the death of three rebels and the wounding of one soldier and an insurgent. Also, he said government forces captured three rebels and recovered five M16 rifles, one M203 Grenade Launcher, two rifle grenades, and one Motorola hand-held radio. The wounded soldier (identified as Michael Lalog) and the rebel were brought to the Fernando Airbase Hospital. In a radio report, Lt. Col. Noel Detoyato, spokesman for the Army's 2nd ID said NPA rebels seemed to be on their way to conduct extortion activity. "Mukhang may gagawin silang extortion activity kaya sila nagsama-sama (The NPA rebels seemed on their way to conduct an extortion activity when our troops encountered them)," Detoyato said in an interview on dzRH radio. A separate report on dzXL radio said the rebels were resting in a house in the area when the PAF unit chanced on them. — LBG/RSJ, GMANews.TV