July 17, 2003, The Philippine Star, Philippines: Five communist rebels, two soldiers killed in Bataan clash,

July 17, 2003, The Philippine Star, Philippines: Five communist rebels, two soldiers killed in Bataan clash,

Camp Aquino, Tarlac: Five communist guerrillas and two soldiers were killed in a three-hour gunbattle in Bataan last Tuesday afternoon [15 July], the spokesman of the Armed Forces' Northern Luzon Command (Nolcom) said.

According to Lt-Col Preme Monta, combined elements of the army's 24th Infantry Battalion, 7th Infantry Division and 703rd Infantry Brigade and the Bataan police clashed with some 80 New People's Army (NPA) rebels in Barangay [Village] Pagalanggan in Dinalupihan town.

Monta said policemen went to the village to verify a report that the guerrillas executed a villager whom they had accused of having "blood debts" to the people.

The responding policemen were met with heavy gunfire, prompting army soldiers conducting combat operations nearby to reinforce them.

Monta said Barangay Pagalanggan is one of the "rebel-infiltrated" villages in Central Luzon.

After the rebels retreated, Monta said the government troops found the bodies of five guerrillas, who still remain unidentified.

He said two soldiers of the 24th IB were also killed in the firefight.

Monta said the rebels involved in the clash, led by one Ka [Comrade] Tayao, belong to at least three NPA units - the Kilusang Larangang Gerilya [Guerilla Front Movement]-Cases, KSP-Hizon and the Bataan-Zambales Interprovincial Committee.