LUCENA CITY – Government forces killed a suspected ranking communist rebel leader in Southern Tagalog region and two others in an alleged shootout in Antipolo City early Thursday, a regional Army spokesman said. Report from Police Regional Office 4 identified one of the slain rebels as “Ka Bisaya,” alleged NPA Platoon leader in the region. The government troops reportedly seized one M16 rifle, one 9mm pistol, one caliber .45 pistol, two hand grenades, laptops, mobile phones and rebel documents. Report said the presence of Lazarte and companions in the area was tipped off by “informants” from inside the rebel movement. Padilla was the NPA spokesman in the Southern Tagalog region.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer December 05, 2019 00:22 UTC