From GMA News (Dec 5): Suspected NPA rebel killed in CamSur clash
A suspected New People's Army (NPA) rebel was killed Thursday morning in an encounter with government troops in Camarines Sur, military officials said.
In a report, Capt. Mardjorie Panesa, public affairs officer of the Army's 9th Infantry Division, said troop from the 49th Infantry Batallion led by Lt. Howard Ardedon engaged more or less seven insurgents in Barangay Sinuknipan in Del Gallego town around 4:30 a.m.
A suspected New People's Army (NPA) rebel was killed Thursday morning in an encounter with government troops in Camarines Sur, military officials said.
In a report, Capt. Mardjorie Panesa, public affairs officer of the Army's 9th Infantry Division, said troop from the 49th Infantry Batallion led by Lt. Howard Ardedon engaged more or less seven insurgents in Barangay Sinuknipan in Del Gallego town around 4:30 a.m.
"Firefight lasted for about 5 minutes, afterwhich the enemy withdrew to a northwest direction," Panesa said.
For his part, Lt. Col. Medel Aguilar, 9th ID spokesperson, said at least one suspected rebel was killed in the encounter.
Panesa identified the killed rebel as Bicol regional committee operations commander Rene Rabulan Briones alias "Singkit" or "Arjun."
He added that government troops recovered a caliber .45 pistol, a shotgun, two laptops, and two backpacks from the suspected NPA rebels.
The NPA is the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines. The outlawed group has been fighting government troops since 1969.