FORT BONIFACIO, Taguig City (June 30 2012) - A total of thirteen communist rebels were killed in two separate clashes with Army soldiers today.
The first clash erupted in Mambog village, Botolan town in Zambales at around 5:30am involving the troops of the 24th Infantry Battalion led by Lt Col Michael Samson against 12 heavily armed rebels who were conducting extortion activities in the village. Two rebels were killed after the 20-minute clash, while the rest of the rebels scampered away towards various directions. A certain Lito Collado a.k.a. Ka Warry sustained a bullet wound in his leg and was evacuated by the soldiers towards a local hospital.
The soldiers recovered 2 M14 Assault Rifles, 2 M16 Assault Rifles, a shot gun and other war materials. At around 11:10am, troops of the 74th Infantry Battalion led by Lt Col Dennis Perez, encountered at least 15 rebels in Quezon Province.
Perez said that the clash erupted in Sitio Makuyo-kuyo, White Cliff village of San Narciso town when his soldiers chanced upon at least 15 rebels led by a certain Ka Edel.
Eleven rebels were killed, while two soldiers were slightly wounded in the firefight which lasted about 30 minutes.
The soldiers confiscated 8 assorted firearms including 5 M16 Rifles, 1 M203 Grenade Launcher, 1 M79 Grenade Launcher and a pistol.
The dead rebels were transported towards San Narciso town to be turned-over to the local officials. Pursuit operations have been launched to locate the remnants of the bandit group who are extorting money from the residents.
The Army has called on the rebels to lay down their arms and abandon the use of armed violence as a way of solving various problems in the community.