Suspected rebel killed in Negros Occidental clash

A suspected New People's Army rebel was killed following a clash with government troops in Negros Occidental before dawn Wednesday, the commanding general of the Philippine Army said. In a text message to reporters, Lt. Gen. Arturo Ortiz said the encounter occurred around 5:30 a.m. when patrolling elements of the Army's 62nd Infantry Battalion caught up with an undetermined number of insurgents at Sitio Minaantol in Barangay Hinabongan in Calatarava town. Ortiz said the operating troops recovered the body of the rebel as well as an M16 rifle and three backpacks. There were no government casualties, he added. Pursuit operations against the other rebels are ongoing, Ortiz said. The NPA is the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines. At present, talks with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines have yet to resume. — RSJ, GMA News