4 rebels killed in Masbate firefight

By Mar S. Arguelles LEGAZPI CITY --- At least four suspected New People’s Army (NPA) rebels were killed on Monday in an encounter with Army soldiers in Barangay Pangle, a remote village of Aroroy town in Masbate, the Army’s 9th Infantry Division (9thID) spokesperson Capt. Joash Pramis reported. Pramis, quoting an initial report, said that at around 6:30 a.m., a platoon of Army soldiers who were on combat patrol engaged a 20-man group of NPA guerrillas in a 20-minute firefight where four NPA rebels were killed. Pramis said the identities of the slain rebels have yet to be determined as their bodies are still being transported to the town hall for identification and documentation purposes. Recovered from the encounter scene were two M14 rifles, two M16 rifles and an M230 grenade rifle. Army soldiers are still on hot pursuit operation and scouring the neighboring areas where the remaining NPA rebels could have sought refuge.