5 rebels killed in military encounter in CamSur

By Rhaydz Barcia

LEGAZPI CITY --- Five members of the New People’s Army (NPA) were killed two days before Christmas in a broad daylight encounter between troops of the Army’s 83rd Infantry Battalion and the Philippine National Police in an outlying area of Barangay Burabod, Lagonoy, Camarines Sur, on Tuesday, December 23, 2025.

Army Major Frank Roldan, spokesperson of the Army’s 9th Infantry Division (9ID), identified the rebel casualties as Christopher Endrinal, alias Bal, head of the Regional Urban Committee of the BRPC; Ramil Recto, alias Paeng, head of Platoon 1, KLG1, SRC2; and Danilo Budino, alias Ter or Dado, leader of KLG2, SRC2, along with their members Limuel Casiano Pacon, alias Cris, and a certain Pepe.

Government troops recovered from the slain rebels an M16 rifle, a .45-caliber pistol, three anti-personnel mines, a laptop, and personal items at the encounter site after other rebels fled.

The troops launched intensified pursuit operations against the communist guerrillas following a series of encounters in recent days that left two soldiers, including an Army official, dead.

On December 20, Philippine Army troops in Camarines Sur recovered four M16 rifles in Barangay Pinamihagan, Lagonoy.

“It was learned that the group was attempting to return to areas they previously controlled to generate support, but residents reported the presence of the government’s enemy to the authorities,” Roldan said.

The 9ID lauded the community’s cooperation in maintaining peace and security. Roldan also urged the remaining rebels to lay down their arms, reunite with their families, and return to the fold of the law.

Earlier, on December 20, at least two soldiers were killed after anti-personnel mines (APMs) were allegedly detonated by NPA rebels in Balatan, Camarines Sur.

Elements of the 9th Infantry Battalion (9IB), under the 9th Infantry Division, were conducting security operations in the hinterlands of Barangay Cabungan on Friday, December 19, when the communist rebels detonated the APMs, the military said.

The Army’s 9th Infantry Division condemned the rebels for using anti-personnel mines, which are strictly prohibited under International Humanitarian Law (IHL) because they cannot distinguish between combatants and civilians.

“This incident is a blatant violation of the international rules of war and clearly shows the Communist Party of the Philippines–New People’s Army’s disregard for life, human rights, and the safety of innocent civilians who continue to be placed at risk by their terroristic activities,” Roldan said.

Earlier, the CPP declared a four-day unilateral ceasefire from 12 a.m. of December 25 to 11:59 p.m. of December 26, and from 12 a.m. of December 31 to 11:59 p.m. of January 1, in observance of the holiday season.

However, the truce was rejected by the Department of National Defense (DND) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), which vowed to continue intensified military operations against the New People’s Army.