Tuesday, December 07, 2010

Troops kill 3 NPA rebels, capture female fighter in Mindanao clash


DAVAO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Dec. 7, 2010) – Government troops killed three communist rebels and captured a wounded female fighter following a clash on Tuesday in the southern Philippines, officials said.

Officials said the fighting broke out in the village of Pasian in Compostela Valley’s Monkayo town after troops ran into a group of New People’s Army rebels.

Soldiers also recovered 7 automatic weapons and two improvised explosives left behind by rebels, said Army Lieutenant Colonel Medel Aguilar, a spokesman for the 10th Infantry Division.

“An encounter between soldiers from the 25th Infantry Battalion under and NPAs resulted to the recovery of five M16 rifles, one Garand rifle, one Carbine, two Improvised Explosive Devices and NPA documents,” Aguilar said, adding, the fighting lasted more than 20 minutes.

He said the wounded rebel, Lea Palma Gil alias Ka Tanya, was evacuated to a military hospital in Davao City for medical treatment, but she is likely to be interrogated later about the local activities of the New People’s Army, armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines which is currently negotiating peace with Manila.

Other reports said Gil did not reach the hospital alive.

Last week, rebel forces killed 5 soldiers and wounded at least 10 more in fierce fighting in the village of Paloc in Maragusan town also in Compostela Valley province, a known stronghold of communist fighters in Mindanao.

President Benigno Aquino III has reopened collapsed peace talks with the rebels in an effort to end bloody secessionist war in the Philippines.


Negotiations broke down in 2004 after rebel leaders accused then President Gloria Arroyo of reneging on several accords, among them the release of political prisoners. (Mindanao Examiner)

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