PILI, Camarines Sur -- A government soldier and one suspected New People’s Army rebel were killed on Thursday last week after a fierce bloody encounter between the two forces that interrupted a town’s observance of the Holy Week l.

        Maj. Christopher Morales, public information officer of the Philippine Army’s 9th Infantry Division (ID), reported that the firefight took place at around 10 a.m. in Sitio Jamurawon, Brgy. Patalunan, Ragay, Camarines Sur.

        Morales said the gunfight ensued when troops from the 9ID’s 9th Scout Ranger Company chanced upon an armed group of about 30 men suspected to be NPA guerillas.

        The firefight lasted for two hours before the suspected rebels fled, leaving behind an M-16 rifle.

        Earlier, the Philippine Army top command blamed the communist terrorist rebels for the killing of unarmed soldiers who were on humanitarian mission in Barangay Cawayan, Ragay, Camarines Sur last March 16.

        Morales identified the murdered soldiers as Private First Class Alvin M. Nario and Pfc John Dave O. Tanay.

        They were reportedly gunned down while on board a motorcycle on their way back to Barangay Casay, Lupi, Camarines Sur after sending money from their wages to their respective families.

        The local residents of Lupi town condemned the senseless killing of the troopers whom they said were their partners in community development. PIA report based on PA release