DAVAO CITY – The Philippine military on Tuesday said four senior commander of the communist rebel group New People’s Army were among those killed by soldiers in fierce clashes in the southern province of Sarangani.
Army Major Ezra Balagtey, a spokesman for the Eastern Mindanao Command, said two other recruits, including a female combatant, were also slain in the fighting in Datal Anggas village in the town of Alabel.
He said among the dead was Ka Brigol, who was the Deputy Secretary General and Political Officer of the Guerrilla Front 71. His team leaders Ka JM and Ka Jonas and Ka Lieutenant, a deputy; and a medic and the woman fighter, remain unidentified.
He said no soldiers were killed or wounded in the gun battle.
Balagtey said troops also recovered two AK-47, six M16 and one M653 automatic rifles, and also four landmines and two rifle grenades, including five radio transceivers and medical equipment and backpacks left behind by fleeing rebels.
General Aurelio Baladad, chief of the Eastern Mindanao Command, said they have coordinated with the local authorities and efforts were being made to locate the families of those killed in the fighting.
“While these bandits were killed in a legitimate encounter, there are families that are waiting for them, it is for this reason that our unit on the ground are now coordinating with local authorities especially with the Social Welfare and the police authorities in Sarangani province for the proper disposition of the cadavers and be brought home to their respective families for a decent burial,” Baladad said.
“Again with the help of the family members, the community and local government we are calling our deceived brothers, who are part of this group and other bandit groups to come down, lay down their fire arms and live peacefully with their families,” he added.
The rebels have been waging a separatist campaign for many decades now. (Mindanao Examiner)
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