2 NPA rebels die in Leyte firefight

NPA cadres perform drills somewhere in the Cordillera. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

Just a few days after the end of holiday ceasefire, two communist rebels were killed in a firefight with the military in Leyte, the Armed Forces announced on Thursday.

The encounter between the members of the New People’s Army (NPA) and the 78th Infantry Battalion lasted for about an hour, said Cpt. Francis Agno, spokesperson of the Army’s 8th Infantry Division.

The gun battle transpired in Brgy. Hilapnitan, Baybay City at 10:45 a.m. on Thursday.

The soldiers acted on a report of the residents that communist rebels were in the area conducting extortion activities in the community.

No government forces incurred casualties, Agno said.

The government forces also recovered one M16 rifle and one M653 rifle. /jpv