4 NPA guerrillas, 1 soldier killed in Masbate town firefight

FOUR communist insurgents and one soldier were killed in a firefight that ensued after members of the New People’s Army ambushed a joint military-police team in Cawayan town, Masbate province on Monday afternoon, police said.

Three government troopers were also wounded when the rebels ambushed several lawmen who were about to implement search and arrest warrants around 5 p.m. in Barangay (village) Del Carmen.

Chief Inspector Marvin Federe, Provincial Officer of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group Masbate, said the lawmen were dispatched to arrest Dindo Monsanto, one of the most wanted persons in Bicol, in Barangay Cabungahan.

Authorities confiscated in the past an M16 rifle, an Ingram submachine gun and a short firearm from Monsanto.

Federe said in a report, a copy of which was sent to INQUIRER.net, that government troops were also about to serve search warrants on two village officials.

“Operating troops have already extricated themselves from the ambush area. The troops are now in the Barangay Hall of Del Carmen,” he said.

Improvised explosives and a .45-caliber pistol were recovered from the scene.