CAMP ELIAS ANGELES, Pili, Camarines Sur – Six armed communist rebels who were no match to the superior firepower of a platoon of soldiers from the Charlie Company of the 42nd Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army in the early morning of Feb. 3, retreated, leaving behind a cal. 38 handgun, a report from the 9th Infantry Division, PA, here said.

        The NPA rebels scampered to the hills after a brief encounter that lasted for no more than two minutes with a patrolling Army platoon in Sitio Tog-Ayan, Cumagingking, Calabanga, Camarines Sur led by Lt. Noni A. Alcala.

        No injury or casualty was reported from both sides.

        Meanwhile, at around noon of the same day, combined elements of the Bravo Company of the 42nd IB led by Lt. Ronnie B. Sicad and the MIB headed by Lt. Jeffrey S. Bapora chanced upon a band of 10 New People’s Army rebels led by Arnold Deleña, alias “Ka Bunso” reportedly of the communist rebels’ Front Committee 75.

        The encounter lasted for five minutes in Sitio Pamanusan, Patag Belen, Caramoan, Camarines Sur, after which the rebels fled in the direction of Bgy. Poloan of the same town.

        The army recovered a cal. 30 M1 with four clips of ammunition, a loaded cal. 38 revolver, and a backpack of personal effects.