Two soldiers dead in Army clash with suspected NPA members in Quezon

Two Army soldiers died and one soldier was wounded when members of the Philippine Army's 85th Infantry Brigade clashed with suspected members of the New People's Army in Quezon on Friday, the military said.

The names of the soldiers killed in action (KIA) and wounded in action (WIA) were withheld pending notice to their kin, according to the Army's 201st Infantry Brigade.

There were also casualties on the rebels' side but the number could not be confirmed yet, the Army said.

The first clash happened in Sitio Pung-oy, Barangay Masaya, in Buenavista, Quezon at 4 a.m.

Army soldiers pursued the fleeing rebels and engaged them in an encounter at 11:40 a.m. in Sitio Hinapay, Barangay San Roque Agro in Catanauan, Quezon.

Brigadier General Norwyn Romeo Tolentino, commander of the Army's 201st Brigade, expressed grief over the deaths of the soldiers.

"Nalulungkot kami sa pagkawala ng aming kasamahan, ngunit sumasaludo kami sa kanilang katapangan at kabayanihan. Inalay nila ang kanilang buhay sa paglilingkod sa bayan upang magkaroon ng tunay na kapayapaan dito sa probinsya ng Quezon," he said. —With a report from Peewee Bacuño/KG, GMA News