One soldier was killed, and three others were injured after Philippine Marines troops encountered an armed group who were allegedly members of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Taytay town, Palawan Monday afternoon.
According to the 3rd Marine Brigade, the encounter between the military and suspected NPA members lasted 10 minutes in Sitio Ibangley in Barangay Abungan, Palawan past 3:30 p.m.
Here one soldier was killed, and three others were injured. The suspected NPAs fled the area.
According to a spokesman for the 3rd Marine Brigade, they received information that there were suspicious people in the area, so the soldiers immediately conducted a patrol.
“It’s a legit encounter. May nagreport na civilian sa presence ng mga kahina hinalang tao po and sa pagresponde ng Marines ay nagkasagupaan po sila,” said 1st Lt. Orchelyn Bobis, spokesperson of 3rd Marine Brigade.
(It’s a legit encounter. A civilian reported the presence of suspicious individuals, and in the response of the Marines, they clashed.)
It is not yet clear how many were injured in the NPA group.
“May mga bloodstain sa lugar na pinwestuhan ng kalaban po. Kaya naniniwala ako na may casualty sila,” said Bobis.
(There are bloodstains in the area where the enemy is stationed. So I believe they have casualties.)
Marines troops are still surveying the scene of the encounter.
Also read: Killed NPA rebel recruited when he was only 17, Army says
Last weekend, two suspected NPAs were killed in separate encounters in Zamboanga del Norte over the weekend.
A group of rebels and Army’s 53rd Infantry Battalion (IB) troops engaged in a firefight on Saturday.
Lt. Col. Jo-ar Herrera of the 53rd IB said the military forces were responding to information from villagers that there was a presence of armed men in Barangay Pange when the rebels opened fire at them.
The encounter lasted 10 minutes.
The suspected NPA rebels retreated and left one caliber .50 rifle (Barrett) with 20 ammunition, one rocket-propelled grenade with two ammunition, one M-16 Armalite rifle, medical paraphernalia, assorted medicines, propaganda materials, and personal belongings.
On March 18, the government declared a ceasefire with the NPA as the country prioritizes fighting the deadly virus. The Communist Party of the Philippines or CPP-NPA agreed on March 25.