An alleged communist rebel was killed in a firefight in Caraga region.

Troops of the 26th Infantry Battalion engaged around 50 members of the New People’s Army (NPA) in an armed encounter at Sitio Tamyang in Barangay Binicalan, San Luis, Agusan del Sur.

The group was allegedly part of the NPA’s Headquarters Force NEO and Regional Sentro De Gravidad Compaq, North Central Mindanao Regional Committee (NCMRC).

The military also seized an M4 rifle from the slain rebel.

Last week, the military confiscated high-powered guns, including an M16 rifle with magazines and other war materials from an arms cache of the NPA at Mt. Linintian in Barangay La Purisima, Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur.

The arms cache was discovered following the surrender of the squad leader of the former Guerilla Front 19 under the NPA’s Northeastern Mindanao Regional Committee (NEMRC).

Meanwhile, another rebel turned himself in to the troops of the 23rd Infantry Battalion in Buenavista, Agusan del Norte and handed over his AK47 rifle and several ammunition.

"Our successes will, once again, dampen the morale of the remaining CTG members and leaders, causing turmoil within their ranks. As we intensify our efforts to defeat this criminal group, we anticipate more surrenders as they are now concerned about their future and constantly evading government troops,” 4th Infantry Division (4ID) Commander, Major General Jose Maria Cuerpo II, said.

“Hence, we reiterate our call to the remaining members of the CTG to abandon violence and stop fighting before it's too late. We assure them that their lives will change and transform when they surrender under the government's enhanced compressive local integration program," Cuerpo added.