TAGUM CITY, Philippines—At least 500 people have fled their homes as renewed clashes between government forces and New People’s Army (NPA) rebels erupted in a remote town of Compostela Valley on Wednesday, military and civilian officials said Thursday.

Running gun battles raged in two villages in Maragusan town, killing a suspected rebel and wounding a soldier, said the military’s Eastern Mindanao Command spokesperson, Major Randolph Cabangbang.

Cabangbang said at least 40 gunmen believed to be members of the NPA’s Guerrilla Front 24 and Pulang Bagani Company (PBC)-5 ran into pursuing troops of the Army’s 1001st Infantry Brigade triggering a firefight at 8:45 a.m. in Barangay Lahi.

“The rebels were retreating after they encountered our troops in Barangay Langgawisan at 7 a.m. when the second engagement happened,” he said.

The second gunfight, he said, resulted in the death of the unidentified rebel and the wounding of Private Varion Jun Camarillo.

Three suspected rebels, some of them minors, were also captured and were undergoing tactical interrogation while charges were being readied against them, Cabangbang said.

Three M16 and an M14 rifle were also recovered at the site of the encounter, he said.

“We commiserate with the family of our brother who was lured into believing a lost cause. It is unfortunate that we have to face such misery when we can live together peacefully if these armed groups will just realize the damage they are doing to our country and lay down their arms in the spirit of reconciliation,” said Colonel Romeo Calizo, commander of the 1001st Infantry Brigade.

Josephine Frasco, provincial social welfare officer, said 87 families or about 500 individuals from Hanginan and Kaluyapi in Barangay Langgawisan were temporarily taking shelter at the village hall.

“They have are still at the evacuation center. We have already distributed food packs to them,” Frasco said in a text message to the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

The latest violence came in the wake of a massive pursuit operation by the military against communist guerrillas suspected of overrunning a militia outpost and disarming its personnel in Monkayo town early in the month,.

A soldier was also killed Tuesday when suspected NPA snipers fired at a team of government troops resting in a school in Monkayo town.