DAVAO CITY—Two soldiers and two militiamen were killed Sunday in a gun battle with suspected New People’s Army (NPA) guerrillas in Monkayo, Compostela Valley.

Lt. Gen. Cardoso Luna, commander of the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Eastern Mindanao Command, identified the slain soldiers and militiamen as Staff Sergeant Leo Bocter, Private First Class Romeo Miro, and certain Sam-o and Gala, both members of the Civilian Armed Auxiliary (CAA).

Three from the government side were also wounded and were identified as a Corporal Catanduanes, CAAs Dandan and Escalera.

Luna, quoting a report from the 10th Infantry Division here, said that seven militia men, led by an enlisted personnel from the 72nd Infantry Battalion (IB) and augmented by two civilian operatives from the 28th IB, were conducting a patrol Sunday when, at 2 p.m., they encountered about 30 suspected NPA.

A gun battle ensued at the vicinity of sitio Palina, barangay Isidro, Monkayo.

After 30 minutes, the NPAs, believed to be under a certain Ka Jinggoy of SDG, Guerrilla Front 3, Southern Mindanao Revolutionary Command, withdrew toward the northeast direction.

They brought with them two AR18,  one M-14, and two Garand rifles from the government soldiers.

Luna said the division already dispatched a platoon of soldiers from the “C” Company of the 25th IB aboard an M35 truck.

They also escorted two AFV Simba personnel carriers, and proceeded toward San Isidro, Monkayo, to reinforce the troops.

A section also of the A Company of the 28th IB was also dispatched at 2:20 p.m. and proceeded to barangay Banlag, Monkayo, to block a possible withdrawal of the NPAs using the road.

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DAVAO CITY—Two soldiers and two militiamen were killed Sunday in a gun battle with suspected New People’s Army (NPA) guerrillas in Monkayo, Compostela Valley.