Eight alleged members of the New People’s Army (NPA) were killed in a clash with state troopers at Sitio Agit, Barangay Trinidad, Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental Tuesday, March 23.
Maj. Cenon Pancito III, public affairs office chief of the 3rd Infantry Division of the Philippine Army, said government soldiers encountered the 40 rebels at about 12:55 p.m. after they went to the area following reports of the presence of armed men.
The firefight lasted for three hours and the rebels withdrew towards the northwest direction, he said.
The soldiers recovered 11 high-powered firearms – six M-16 rifles, two M-14 rifles, one M60 submachine gun, and one KG9 submachine gun, Pancito said.
Also recovered from the scene were two M-14 magazines with ammunition, two landmines, two backpacks, and documents, he added.
The rebels were believed to be part of the NPA Central Negros Command.
Pancito said that additional government forces were deployed to pursue the fleeing rebels.
Police stations have been alerted and checkpoints are up to intercept them, he said.
They have already coordinated with the police for the identification of the eight recovered bodies, Pancito said.
No one from the government’s side were injured during the clash, he said.*