Soldier killed in battle with alleged NPAs in Zamboanga del Sur

December 9, 2019

A soldier was killed in a 20-minute encounter with alleged members of New People’s Army (NPA) in Zamboanga del Sur on Sunday afternoon.

Maj. Arvin Encinas, spokesman of the Armed Forces of Philippines (AFP) Western Mindanao Command, said Bravo Company of the 97th Infantry Battalion encountered an undetermined number of armed men in  the vicinity of Sitio Napolan, Barangay Tinuyop, Leon B. Postigo at 3:35 pm.

“While scouring the encounter site, operating troops recovered 12 backpacks, three improvised explosive devices, two hand grenades, two rifle grenades, and four caliber 50 ammunition,” he said.

Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, chief of the Western Mindanao Command, honored the soldier killed during the clash.

“My salute to our soldier who paid the ultimate sacrifice putting other people and the country ahead of himself,” Sobejana said.

“In honor of all our fallen heroes, we will continue to conduct military operations and maximize intelligence monitoring with the assistance of the police, the local government, and the civilians in the province of Zamboanga del Sur to disallow these communist terrorists to thrive in the communities," he said. Robina Asido/DMS