By LITO RULONA, Correspondent A clash between members of the Communist Party of the Philippines – New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) and the Army’s 8th Infantry Battalion resulted to the death of one rebel on Tuesday afternoon in barangay Bunal, Salay, Misamis Oriental. The firefight happened three weeks after the successful release of captured cop SPO4 Rene Rombo in an adjacent area in Barangay Banglay, Lagonglong. 58th IB spokesperson Capt. Nelson Endoso said army troopers spotted a group of rebels traversing the area where they were conducting a mapping-out operation. “The exchange of fire power lasted for more than 15 minutes leaving one fatality on the side of the rebels,” Endoso said. Endoso withheld the name of the rebel who was killed but said the rebel was reportedly a resident of Sitio Lantad, Barangay Kibanban, in Balingasag. He added they were able to recover an M16 rifle and several ammunition. He said on Tuesday evening army troopers who were retrieving the dead rebel body were again harassed by the rebel troops who wanted to retaliate in the afternoon clash. Endoso said none of the army troopers were hurt during the encounter. “After the retrieval of the dead body, we will give him a decent burial in his area of origin,” he added.