THE military reported that a member of the New People’s Army (NPA) was killed and another was captured during two separate encounters between the rebels and members of the 23rd and 16 Infantry Battalions in Buenavista, Agusan del Norte on Wednesday and Thursday.
Second Lieutenant Angel Grace Sebelina, acting civil-military operation officer of the 23IB, said the rebel who was killed has yet to be identified, while the one who was captured wasMariel Catipan, 26.
Based on the report, the soldiers were informed about the presence of the rebels trying to conduct extortion activities in Sitio San Vicente, Barangay Sangay, Buenavista, Agusan del Norte.
This prompted them to proceed to the area, while resulted in an encounter on Wednesday. But the clash was short as the rebels withdrew.
Then the soldiers and the police in the province decided to conduct checkpoint operations which resulted in the capture of Catipan as she was trying to escape. Another member of the group surrendered.
The following day, soldiers and the rebels clashed in Sitio Balatakan, Barangay Guinabsan, Buenavista which resulted in the death of another rebel.
