One army killed in an encounter with the NPA

ZAMBOANGA CITY – One soldier of the 53^rd Infantry Battalion of the 102^nd Brigade Philippine Army was killed in encounter between the Local Communist Movement-New People’s Army (LCM-NPA) of the Western Mindanao Regional Party Committee (WMRPC), near the boundary between the town of Buug and Malangas all of Zamboanga Sibugay province.

First Infantry (Tabak) Division Chief MGen. Ricardo Rainier Cruz III disclosed, the government troops led by Captain Rafel L. Balincamaya, Jr while on its reconnaissance operation in the vicinity of Brgy. Compostela, Buug, Zamboanga Sibugay encountered undetermined numbers of armed men believed to be members of the LCM-NPA of the WMRPC.

The encounter ensued at about 3:35 this afternoon, August 15, 2012 that lasted for 30 minutes, the First Division Chief said.

The fatality on the government side was not yet identified by the military officials while the military believed undetermined casualties occurred from the LCM-NPA based in the blood stain from their escaped route.

Government troops recovered abandon some personal belongings of the fleeing rebels.

The Government troops are still on the combat operations at the target areas in Zambanga Sibugay province.  

One army killed in an encounter between the NPA
Intermittent firefight between the Gov’t forces and NPA still ongoing