NORTH COTABATO, Philippines — Three communist rebels and a militiaman were killed in an encounter in Makilala town yesterday.
Seven other militiamen were wounded in the clash.
Around 50 New People’s Army (NPA) guerrillas fired at a detachment of the Citizen Armed Forces Geographical Unit in Sitio Garing, Barangay Luayon, triggering a gunfight, Chief Inspector John Felongco Medel said.
“The militiamen were outnumbered, but still held the line and prevented the rebels from getting near them,” First Lt. Lea Canseran, civil-military relations officer of the 39th Infantry Battalion (IB), said.
The Makilala municipal peace and order council said the attack could be in retaliation for the losses the communists incurred in recent encounters in Magpet, Arakan and President Roxas towns.
More than 20 NPA rebels were killed in gunfights with militiamen and soldiers of the 39th IB in the past three months.
Canseran said the 39th IB is bracing for more attacks by the rebels.