DAVAO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Feb. 22, 2009) – Government soldiers clashed with communist New People’s army rebels on Sunday, killing two fighters in the Mindanao province of Davao del Norte, the military said.
The military said the clash broke out in the village called Dagohoy in Talaingod town after patrolling troops encountered a band of rebels.
There were no military casualties in the fighting and soldiers captured two automatic rifles left behind by fleeing rebels, according to a military report.
Soldiers also recovered the bodies of the slain rebels.
Early this month, the military said it killed seven NPA rebels in fierce fighting in North Cotabato’s Tulunan town, scene of bloody clashes in recent months between the two groups.
But rebel leaders denied the reported casualties and branded the military report as propaganda.
The NPA, armed wing of the outlawed Communist Party of the Philippines, has been fighting for decades for the establishment of a Maoist state in the country.
Rebel leaders broke off peace talks with the Arroyo government in 2004 after the United States listed the NPA, including the outlawed Communist Party of the Philippines and the National Democratic Front, as foreign terrorist organizations and froze their assets abroad on Manila’s prodding.
The NPA vowed to intensify attacks against police and military targets in the southern Philippines. (Mindanao Examiner)
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