One Army soldier and a still unidentified NPA rebel were killed when government troops and communist guerillas clashed Friday morning in Bais City.
Col. Harold Anthony Pascua, 79th IB Commanding Officer said his troops were acting on reports from civilians on the presence of armed men extorting foodstuffs at sitio Sandana of barangay Mansangaban when the 30-minute firefight around 10:12 A.M. ensued.
Efforts are still being done to identify the killed rebel while the name of the soldier killed in action is still being withheld pending notification of next of kin.
Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) have already been alerted to investigate on the area of encounter as troops from the unit are conducting pursuit operations amid the inclement weather, a press statement from the 79th IB said.
Colonel Pascua expressed his condolences to the families of both fatalities.
Col. Pascua also recognized the soldier killed in action as a hero who died in the name of pursuing peace and protecting Negrenses as he called on the NPA remnants to instead lay down their arms and join mainstream society. (PR)
