[ABS-CBN] A suspected communist militant was killed in an clash with the Philippine soldiers in Misamis Oriental on Wednesday.Troops exchanged fire with about 30 militants, believed to be members of the Sentro De Gravidad (JAGU) of the New People's Army's guerrilla front 4B of North Central Mindanao Regional Committee under Marvin Lutawan alias "Budo". The militants were said to be operating in the hinterlands of Claveria, Balingasag and Gingoog City in Misamis Oriental.
The firefight lasted for a half-hour. The body of a militant, armed with a high-powered firearm, was left behind.
The battalion involved launched pursuit operations after the NPA attacked Barangay Alagatan, Gingoog City in July. That attack left one soldier dead, two civilians injured, and another abducted. Three members of the Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit were also allegedly killed by the same group of militants in Barangay Hindangon in Gingoog City on July 19.