2 suspected NPA rebels killed in Samar clash

Two suspected communist rebels were killed following a clash with government security forces before dawn Monday in Western Samar, the commanding general of the Philippine Army said. Citing field reports, Lt. Gen. Arturo Ortiz said the encounter erupted 5:30 a.m. when Army soldiers caught up with 10 New People's Army rebels in Pikit village in Paranas town. No government casualties were reported in the incident, Ortiz said. Recovered from the encounter site were two M14 rifles, an M16 rifle and an M563 rifle. Earlier around 4:05 a.m. the same day, elements of the 24th Infantry Battalion engaged about 10 communist insurgents in Tapuso village in Candelaria town in Zambales province. Ortiz said two soldiers were wounded in the Zambales encounter while a civilian guide was killed. Pursuit operations against the rebels in Zambales are ongoing, Ortiz said. The NPA is the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines. Formal peace negotiations with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines have yet to resume. — RSJ, GMA News