A NEW People’s Army (NPA) rebel was killed in two separate clashes with government troops in the province of Sultan Kudarat, the military said Saturday, February 8, 2025.
The 6th Infantry Division said the first clash happened around 9:30 a.m. Friday, February 7, in Sangay Village, Kalamansig, Sultan Kudarat.
The second clash happened few minutes later in the same village as the troops pursued the fleeing NPA rebels, leaving their slain comrade.
The 6ID said the troops of the 37th Infantry Battalion (37IB) led by Lieutenant Colonel Christoperson Capuyan were conducting security operation when they clashed with the NPA rebels.
“The enemies later fled and they left one of their comrades who was identified only as alias Cardo, who was found to be a follower of alias Brix of the Sub-regional Command Daguma, Far South Mindanao Region of the CPP-NPA-NDF (Communist Party of the Philippines-NPA-National Democratic Front),” the 6ID said in a statement
The troops have recovered an M-16 Armalite rifle and four magazines of ammunition.
Brigadier General Michael Santos, 603rd Infantry Brigade commander, ordered all units near the scene of the encounter to hunt down the fleeing NPA rebels.
“For now, our troops have closed the possible tunnels of the terrorist groups while the decisive military operations against them continue,” Santos said in a statement.
Brigadier General Donald Gumiran, 6ID commander, praised the bravery of the soldiers of the 37IB in defending the village in Kalamansig town.
“This is just proof that your army is ready to sacrifice its life in the service of the people. However, I also extend my condolences to the family of the person who died in the encounter," Gumiran said. (SunStar Zamboanga)