4 killed in Davao Oriental clash
THREE New People's Army (NPA) rebels and a soldier were killed in a clash with government forces in the hinterlands of Davao Oriental, a military official said Wednesday.
Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom) information officer Captain Alberto Caber said the clash ensued around 8:30 a.m., Wednesday at Sitio Matabang in the village of Taocanga, Manay, Davao Oriental.
Caber said the identities of the slain NPA rebels were not immediately available; however, he did not disclose the identity of the slain soldier except in saying he was assigned with the Army's 67th Infantry Battalion.
He said the troops from the 67th Infantry Battalion led by Lieutenant Colonel Krishnamurti Mortela were checking the reported presence of NPA rebels extorting from civilians when the clash broke out.
He said the soldiers have recovered from the clash site two M-16 Armalite rifles, an AK-47 rifle and an M4 rifle, three improvised bombs fashioned out as land mines, a cellular phone and documents of high intelligence value.
Eastmincom chief Lieutenant General Ricardo Rainier Cruz III has lauded the soldiers for protecting the communities from the NPA extortion.
Cruz reminded all military units in the area to undertake joint operations with the police to thwart any atrocities by the NPA rebels.(Bong Garcia)