MANILA, Nov. 17 (Xinhua) -- Three alleged members of the left-wing New People's Army (NPA) were killed in an encounter with government troops in a remote village in Jaro, a municipality in Leyte province, on Monday morning, the military said.
Brigadier General Pompeyo Jason Almagro, commander of the Army's 802nd Infantry Brigade, said the firefight erupted at around 6:24 a.m. local time after villagers reported the presence of armed men in their community.
Soldiers were immediately deployed to verify the report, prompting a clash that resulted in the deaths of three suspected rebels and the recovery of two firearms.
Almagro said six NPA members were seen in the area, but three managed to escape during the gun battle.
"As of the moment, clearing and pursuit operations are still ongoing," he said.
No government soldier was killed or wounded in the clash.
The NPA has waged a decades-long insurgency since 1969, and continues to operate mainly in rural areas across Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao, though security officials say its ranks have sharply declined in recent years.
According to the military, the NPA's current strength is estimated at around 1,000 fighters, far below its peak of roughly 25,000 in the mid-1980s. ■
