2 alleged NPA members die in Occidental Mindoro clash — military

Two alleged members of the communist New People’s Army (NPA) were killed in a clash in Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro, the Philippine Army said on Thursday.

This is a file photo of the New People’s Army (NPA) Guerilla Front 21 with their high-powered firearms somewhere in the mountains of Marihatag town in Surigao del Sur. PHOTO BY ERWIN MASCARIÑAS/INQUIRER

MANILA, Philippines — Two alleged members of the communist New People’s Army (NPA) were killed in a clash with government soldiers in Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro, the Philippine Army said on Thursday.

Government troops and Maoist rebels figured in a 20-minute firefight that led to the death of a male and female rebels only identified with aliases “Hunter” and “Liza.”

“Soldiers from the 68th Infantry Battalion were conducting focused military operations when they encountered armed personalities believed to be members of the Main Regional Guerilla Unit from the Southern Tagalog Regional Party Committee at Sitio Pasugue in Barangay Malisbong which resulted in a twenty-minute firefight,” the Philippine Army said in a statement.

The troops also recovered three M16 rifles, war materiel and other personal belongings.

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