Major Harold Cabunoc, public information officer of the 9th Infantry Division based in Camp Elias Angeles in Pili, Camarines Sur, said that at about 3:30 p.m., a certain Staff Sergeant Escano and two members of the Citizen’s Armed Forces Geographical Unit (Cafgu) were on their way back to their detachment on a motorcycle when ambushed by about seven suspected NPA members in Barangay Banuang Gurang.

A five-minute firefight followed, resulting in the killing of Cafgu member Enrique Sicad and one rebel and the wounding of Escano and another Cafgu man named Dela Cerna, Cabunoc said.

The military immediately dispatched a squad of soldiers to the area.

Cabunoc said the reinforcing troops captured one rebel identified as Rolly Diloso Jorojo of Jovellar, Albay, and recovered from the encounter site an M16 rifle with ammunition, a rifle grenade and a hand grenade.

The wounded soldier and militia man were taken to hospital for treatment.

Earlier, the Jose Rapsing Command of the NPA admitted to the killing of a certain Joel Mitra in Barangay Tigbao in Aroroy, Masbate.

Greg Bañares, spokesperson of the National Democratic Front in Bicol, alleged that Mitra was a government spy who was using his firearms in criminal activities.

Bañares said they recovered a .45-caliber handgun, an Ingram machine pistol, two .38-caliber handguns, a shotgun, and ammunition from Mitra. -- INQUIRER