Three suspected rebels were killed and two were nabbed by State troops during an encounter Wednesday morning, August 17, 2022 in Sitio Pinaglabanan, Barangay Gatbo, Sorsogon City.
The dead rebels were identified as Rene Ezperanzate Espano aka Anjo, Larangan 1 (L1), Komiteng Pamprobinsya 3 (KP3), Team Leader ng Rebolusyonaryong Buwis sa Kaaway na Uri (RBKU); Jaime Fortadez aka Moy, Vice Commanding Officer (VCO), L1, KP3; and Tony aka Amon.
The two arrested rebels were Janine Chavez and Leopoldo Laririt aka Ani.
The police operation team was composite personnel from PIU, Sorsogon PPO, Prieto Diaz police team, 1st PMFC, and Sorsogon CPS supported by 31IB, 903rd Bde and 96 MICO, under over-all supervision of PCol Arturo P. Brual, Jr., Provincial Director, Sorsogon PPO.
Recovered in the encounter site were two (2) 5.56 Baby Armalite rifles, one (1) Cal.9 mm Beretta pistol, nine (9) long and one (1) short fully loaded magazines for 5.56 mm M16 rifles, two (2) fully loaded magazines for 9mm pistol Beretta, several bandoliers, personal belongings, medicines, radio and voluminous subversive documents.