NPA rebel killed in South RP clash

DAVAO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / April 27, 2010) – Government troops killed a communist rebel in a clash in the southern Philippines where security forces are battling the New People’s Army, officials said on Tuesday.

Officials said the fighting occurred in the village of Casoon in Compostela Valley’s Monkayo town. The Monday clash erupted after soldiers spotted a group of rebels allegedly campaigning for leftist party list organizations.

“The gun battle erupted when a team from the Army’s 3rd Special Forces Battalion intercepted a group of New People’s Army rebels belonging to Local Terrorist Front-3 who according to residents were campaigning and posting election materials of their favored candidates,” said Captain Emmanuel Garcia, a spokesman for the Army’s 10th Infantry Division.

He said troops recovered an M16 rifle from the slain rebel.

Garcia said the rebels have been actively campaigning for candidates who are supporting the Communist Party of the Philippines and the New People’s Army.

Filipinos are to elect their new sets of local and national officials in elections next month. The NPA is fighting for decades for the establishment of a Maoist state in the country. (Mindanao Examiner)