2 NPA rebels slain in clash with gov’t soldiers, says Army exec

CATARMAN, Northern Samar – Two suspected communist rebels died in an encounter Tuesday with government troops in Barangay Roxas, Catubig town in this province.

Col. Joemer Buban, battalion commander of the Philippine Army’s 20th Infantry Battalion, said their men were conducting operations after receiving reports about New People’s Army (NPA) presence in the area.

At around 3 p.m., they encountered about 30 rebels, which led to a 20-minute firefight.

Buban said he and his troops would return to the encounter site today, Wednesday, to investigate.

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