3 alleged Reds killed in Isabela encounter

Three suspected communist rebels were killed following a firefight with patrolling government security forces in the northern Philippine province of Isabela early Monday morning, a regional military commander said. About 6:30 a.m., operating troops from the 52nd Division Reconnaissance Company under one Lt. Victoria clashed with an undetermined number of New People's Army rebels at Sitio Lumabog, Cadsalan village in San Mariano town, said Maj. Gen. Rodrigo Maclang, commanding general of the Philippine Army's 5th Infantry Division. Maclang said a government soldier was wounded in the incident while three rebels were killed. Operating troops also recovered an M16 rifle, five hand grenades, one roll of detonating cord, 10 jungle packs and personal belongings. The 7,000-strong NPA is the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines which has been waging a Maoist guerilla warfare in the countryside. Peace talks with the mainstream communist movement remain stalled since August 2004. Just recently, Armed Forces chief Gen. Hermogenes Esperon Jr proposed that a three-year truce be declared for the talks to resume. The proposal, however, was rejected by the National Democratic Front. - GMANews.TV