2 NPAs killed in clash with soldiers in Bukidnon

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PNA) -– Two suspected communist rebels were killed while one was wounded in an armed skirmish along the highways in Bukidnon, Sunday afternoon, the military reported Monday.Army Lt. Leah Porra of the Army’s 403rd Infantry Brigade based in Bukidnon, said that an Army special unit team was on board a private vehicle on their way to a satellite camp in Maramag Sunday afternoon.She said that the vehicle loaded with the Army team pulled along the highway in Kabangahan, Malaybalay when the firefight occurred.Porras said that the suspects suddenly fired at a soldier who went down from the vehicle, which prompted the team to fire back.Porras identified one of the fatalities as Walter Ayuban, the driver-owner of the vehicle and an unidentified companion.The unidentified woman, who claimed to be the wife of Ayuban was also wounded and is now undergoing treatment in a hospital in Malaybalay City, Porras said. The Army did not know why they were fired at but returned fire when the armed men fired at them, which resulted in the death of the two suspects and the wounding of a woman on board the vehicle,” Porras said.The military recovered one .45 caliber pistol, one grenade, rain boots, medicines, cellular phone, T-shirt with Bagong Hukbong Bayan” markings, and PHP200.00 in the suspect’s car, Porras said.She said that no one was hurt on the side of the military’s special armed forces team during the brief firefight past 12 noon Sunday