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2 NPAs killed, 4 soldiers hurt in Bicol clashes


Two suspected New People's Army rebels were killed while four Army soldiers were hurt following separate clashes in the Bicol Region for the past 48 hours, regional military officers said Friday. In San Pascual town in Masbate, government troops engaged 15 insurgents at Sitio Kagirao in Quintana village around 6:20 a.m. Friday, resulting in the death of two suspected rebels, said Col. Generoso Bolina of the Armed Forces Southern Luzon Command. The clash came more than a month after insurgents attacked the Mobo police station in the province which left a soldier dead and 10 others wounded. "After weeks of hot pursuit operations, Army soldiers encountered about 15 NPA rebels," Bolina said. The bodies of the slain rebels were left behind by their fleeing comrades. Government troops later recovered a number of items, including a cal.-30 machine gun, an M16 rifle, an M653 Armalite rifle, and 21 improvised explosives. On Thursday in Camarines Norte, four soldiers were wounded after engaging suspected NPA rebels in Labo town. Major Angelo Guzman of the Army's 10th Infantry Division identified those wounded as Pfc. Marlon B Gastilo, Pfc Mark Anthony D Villaruel, Pfc Larry Joshua C Magalona and Pfc Jeaner R Bitagara, all with the 92nd Division Reconnaissance Company. At the time of the clash, Guzman said the government troops were on their way to a coordinating conference for an upcoming civic action mission. The clashes came even as the government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines have agreed to resume formal talks next month. Stalled in August 2004, the talks are expected to take place in Oslo, Norway. — RSJ, GMA News

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