TWO members of the New People’s Army (NPA) were killed and one soldier was wounded in a clash in Esperanza, Agusan del Sur, the military reported on Saturday. Lt. Col. Ezra Balagtey, a spokesman for the Eastern Mindanao Command (EastMinCom), said the two killed NPA members were unidentified while the wounded soldier was identified as SSg. Joseph Hulibayan. In a report of the EastMinCom, a series of encounters against the 26th Infantry Battalion (IB) transpired at Sitio Mahayon-hayon, Barangay Guibonon on April 30. Hulibayan led the troops in an initial seven-minute encounter that transpired in the afternoon as they responded to a report on the presence of an undetermined number of NPA rebels in the said area. Despite the injury, Hulibayan still led the pursuit and re-engaged the fleeing rebels at 10:30 p.m. The 20-minute exchange of gunfire caused the NPA rebels to flee to different directions leaving behind the two dead bodies, the report said. Seized from the area were two M16 rifles, one AK47 rifle, bandolier, magazines and ammunition. The 26th IB is now in coordination with the Philippine National Police and the local government unit of Esperanza for the identification and turnover of the two unidentified casualties.
