MANILA, Philippines — A suspected New People’s Army (NPA) guerrilla has been killed while several others were believed wounded in an encounter with government security forces in Bukidnon, the military said yesterday.

The Army said troopers recovered an AK-47 rifle after the firefight that occurred in Barangay Bulonay, Impasugong on Friday afternoon.

“We have been monitoring their activities in the area and we caught them this time,” Brig. Gen. Eric Vinoya, chief of the Army’s 403rd Brigade, said referring to the rebels.

The body of the rebel will be turned over to local authorities for identification, Vinoya said.

Maj. Gen. Ronald Villa-nueva, chief of the Army’s 4th Infantry Division, commended the troops for the successful operation against the rebels.

“There will be no let up in our operation against the insurgents,” Villanueva said. 

A pursuit operation has been launched for the fleeing rebels.