Three rebels and a soldier were the latest casualties in the government’s anti-insurgency campaign against the government even as peace talks preparations have already underway between the camp of President-elect Rodrigo Duterte and the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front in Davao City.
According to Captain Rhyan Batchar, public affairs chief of the 10th Infantry Division, the casualties were from a series of encounters Wednesday between soldiers of the 60th Infantry Battalion NPA rebels in Sitio Booy, Barangay Pinamuno, San Isidro, Davao del Norte and in Sitio Tugpahan, Barangay Imelda, Laak, Compostela Valley.
The first encounter in Booy at around 11:45 a.m. lasted for two hours. Two rebels and a soldier were killed while two improvised explosive devices (IEDs), 200-meter detonating cord, blasting caps, subversive documents, a cellphone, and some personal belongings were recovered.
The second clash in Tugpahan at around 2:50 p.m. led to the recovery of three M16 rifles and another IED.
The third encounter at around 5:50 p.m. happened during clearing operations in Booy. It led to the death of another rebel and recovery of an AK-47 rifle.
