MANILA, Oct 9 (NNN-PNA) – The Philippine military said yesterday that, suspected rebels killed two soldiers and wounded six others, in a clash in central Philippines.
The military said in a report that, the fighting first broke out between soldiers and around 20 New People’s Army (NPA) insurgents, at around 6.00 a.m. local time on Thursday, on the outskirts of Himamaylan City, in Negros Occidental province, resulting in a long gunbattle that continued till yesterday, killing two soldiers and injuring six others.
The military said, it sent troops to the area to track down the rebels, after villagers tipped off their presence in the community.
The hunt for the fleeing rebels will continue, said the military. Local media reported that, over 1,000 villagers fled their communities, as the military offensive continued.
NPA rebels have been fighting the government since 1969. They concentrate their attacks on rural areas, and have skirmishes with the military.
Military data showed that, the NPA is estimated to have 2,000 members, significantly lower than its peak strength in the 1980s.– NNN-PNA
