Lt. Manuel Gatus of the 57th Infantry Battalion said the bodies were recovered after the clash, which he said lasted for more than 30 minutes.
Senior Inspector Joyce Birrey, chief of the Makilala police, said she has already sent a team to help recover the bodies so that they would be given proper burial.
“We have yet to know the identities of the bodies,” Birrey said. “The Army said those killed were members of the NPAs but we have yet to verify the reports.”
Some residents in the area said the fatalities belonged to a team of communist guerrillas led by a certain Kumander Marvin. A resident who requested anonymity identified them as Ka Bamboo, Ka Rodel, and Ka Elgen, all allegedly members of NPA Front 51.
Gatus said their troops also recovered four high-powered rifles believed to be left by fleeing rebels and those belonging to the fatalities.
The encounter took place in Sitio Ilitasan in Barangay Biangan.
Despite the clash, Lt. Col. Leopoldo Galon, spokesman of the military’s Eastern Mindanao Command, said their peace and development efforts in Makilala and other towns in North Cotabato will continue. He said they want to convince rebels to lay down their down their firearms. - Malu Cadelina Manar/KBK, GMA News
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December 4, 2011 6:37pm
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