Surigao Sur clash kills insurgent

Cagayan de Oro City — Philippine Army troops killed a suspected communist rebel and seized a cache of high-powered weapons during separate encounters in Agusan del Sur and Surigao del Sur on Monday, military officials said.

In the first incident, soldiers from the 8th Infantry Battalion engaged fleeing members of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Sitio Tacocon, Barangay Kasapa II. The gun battle left one unidentified rebel dead and led to the recovery of a high-powered firearm.

Military officials said the identity of the deceased is pending confirmation by former rebels once the body is extracted from the site.

In a separate operation the same day, the 36th Infantry Battalion clashed with another group of rebels in the hinterlands of Surigao del Sur.

While no government casualties were reported, the military recovered an AK-47 assault rifle with a defaced serial number, magazines, ammunition, and a rifle grenade.

The troops also seized medical supplies and camp equipment abandoned by the retreating rebels, identified by the military as members of the Northeastern Mindanao Regional Committee.

“Clearing and security operations are ongoing to ensure the safety of nearby communities,” the military report disclosed.

Following the clashes, Army officials urged the remaining rebels to surrender and take advantage of the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program, a government initiative providing financial and livelihood assistance to those who leave the movement.

The military reaffirmed its commitment to sustained operations to maintain peace and security across the region.