Army says 2 suspected NPA members killed in Surigao del Sur clash

Two alleged members of the New People’s Army (NPA) were killed in a clash with government troops in Cantilan, Surigao del Sur on Tuesday, the military said.

In a statement on Thursday, the 36th Infantry Battalion said its troops engaged in a ten-minute firefight with around 10 armed rebels believed to be members of the Platoon 2 Guerilla Front.

The bodies were brought to the PNP and local government units for identification and post-mortem examination, according to the military.

The military said the soldiers launched the operation in response to reports that the communist rebels were allegedly conducting extortion activities in the area.

Recovered items were an M16A1 rifle, an AR18 rifle, a carbine, a bandolier loaded with two long magazines and a short M16 magazine, four backpacks, two cell phones, medical paraphernalia, personal belongings, and "subversive documents."

Lieutenant Colonel Michael Rey Reuyan,  Acting Commanding Officer of 36IB,  attributed the accomplished operation to the help of the community.

"With the support of the locals and communities, we could easily track down the enemy,” he said. — BM, GMA News