DAVAO CITY -- Three communist rebels were killed while two others were wounded in a clash with government troops in Compostela Valley province, said a military official Sunday.
The clash took place around 4 p.m. Saturday in Barangay LS Sarmiento, Laak town, Compostela Valley when elements of the 3rd Special Forces Battalion encountered the New People’s Army (NPA) rebels while patrolling the jungles in the area, said Regional military spokesman Major Randolph Cabangbang.
Two of the fatalities identified as members of the NPA were killed during the firefight, while another one died minutes later.
Wounded, on the other hand, was Private First Class Rey Haye and Zaldy Canete, alias Kumander Jinggoy, of the NPA. They were brought to the Camp Panacan military hospital Sunday morning.
Jinggoy, however, was transferred to Davao Medical Center for further treatment, said Captain Emmanuel Garcia, spokesman of the Philippine Army’s 10th Infantry Division.
Garcia said Jinggoy, who was captured after the firefight, is responsible in the raid of a military detachment in Casoon, Monkayo in Compostela Valley, as well as in Napungas, Asuncion, Davao del Norte.
He added that Jinggoy was also responsible in the abduction of Corporal Dominador Alegre on November 2, 2009 at Barangay Casoon, Monkayo.
The rebel leader is now facing charges of multiple murder, homicide and kidnapping of various military personnel.
When asked about Jinggoy’s condition, Garcia said: “He is already in stable condition.”
Also recovered after the firefight were one M16 rifle, one M14 rifle, one 1-653 Baby Armalite rifle, one handheld radio, and personal belongings.
The military said the capture of Jinggoy is another accomplishment for the troops who vowed to continue with their counter-insurgency campaign, especially in Compostela Valley, to meet President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's deadline to end the insurgency by the time her term ends in June.
The armed encounter Saturday was the latest flare-up of violence in a Marxist rebellion running for more than 40 years. (BOT/AP/PNA/Sun.Star Davao/Sunnex)