3 NPA rebels die in Donsol encounter

SORSOGON CITY, May 8 – Three NPA extortionists were killed in an encounter with government troops in a remote village in Donsol, early morning today, a military official said in a text message.

The cadavers of the communist rebels are yet to be identified.

Ltc. Teody Toribio, Commanding Officer of the 31^st Infantry Battalion said that the three bandits died in a clash with his troops at about 5:14am today. Toribio said that he sent troopers from Bravo Company led by its Commanding Officer, 1Lt. Randel L. Wandag after receiving a tip-0ff from a concerned resident in Sitio Nagmara, Bgy. Pinamanaan, a remote village in said town.

“The rebels fired the first shots when we were approaching their temporary camp, triggering a 30-minute firefight, they were about 10-15 rebels and were resting in said place and others are in their hammocks," Toribio said quoting Wandag. The bandits fled leaving behind their three fallen comrades.

Recovered war materials are M16 rifle, 9mm pistol, magazines for M16 and M14 rifles, several ammunitions, 5 backpacks containing personal belongings of the rebels and voluminous terrorist documents containing high intelligence value.

“My troops did not incur any casualties and they are still conducting pursuit operations to hunt down the remnants of the bandit group, if relatives will not claim the cadavers, we will give the fallen rebels a decent burial,” Toribio added in a phone interview.

Col. Felix Castro Jr.,Commander of the 903rd Infantry Brigade said "We are not rejoicing over the death of these misguided people. We enjoin the public to help us in convincing the rebels to lay down their arms and cooperate with the government."

   

Bgy. Pinamanaan is 19 kilometers away from Donsol proper. (Maloha Hatoc/PIA Sorsogon)