4 troops hurt in clash with suspected NPAs in Negros Or

Four Army soldiers were wounded in a firefight with suspected communist insurgents in the central Philippine province of Negros Oriental Friday morning, a local military commander said. In a text message to reporters, Col. Maximo Caro, commander of the Army's 303rd Brigade, said the clash occurred 8:45 a.m. at Sitio Igpapatao, Tacpao village in Guihulngan town when government forces chanced upon an undetermined number of New People's Army (NPA) rebels in the area. There were no reports of enemy casualties so far, Caro said, adding that government forces were still pursuing the rebels as of posting time. The NPA is the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), which is the acknowledged leader of the broader alliance of national democratic forces — the National Democratic Front (NDF). Peace talks between the government and the NDF have been stalled since August 2004. It is not yet known when talks will resume under the incoming Aquino administration. — RSJ, GMANews.TV