CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao del Norte 鈥� A communist rebel was killed while two assault rifles were recovered following a clash with government troops in Kalamansig town, Sultan Kudarat province on Thursday afternoon.
Lt. Colonel John Paul Baldomar, commander of the Army鈥檚 37th Infantry Battalion, said his troops engaged with about 20 New People鈥檚 Army (NPA) guerillas in Barangay Limulan at about 3 p.m. on Thursday.
As the firefight raged for some 20 minutes, Baldomar said the rebels were also fleeing, leaving behind their dead comrade.
鈥淭here was no casualty on the government side,鈥� Baldomar added.
Brig. Gen. Michael Santos, 603rd Infantry Brigade commander, lauded the soldiers for their 鈥渞elentless campaign against those who still fight a lost cause using violence.鈥�
Santos said two M-14 rifles were found after the firefight.
鈥淲e continue to hunt the remaining NPAs in the mountains of Kalamansig,鈥� Santos said.
Maj. Gen. Alex Rillera, 6th Infantry Division commander, appealed to the remaining guerillas to return to the folds of the law and avail of the opportunity to return to mainstream society peacefully.
To date, the 6th ID said it has 鈥渘eutralized鈥� about 40 communist rebels since January this year, of whom five were arrested, 11 killed and 24 voluntarily surrendered.
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