MANILA, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- Five rebels were killed in an encounter with government forces in Batangas province of Northern Philippines on Wednesday afternoon, the military said on Thursday.
Government forces were conducting patrol in Mataas na Pulo village, Nasugbu, Batangas when they encountered about 10 members of New People's Army (NPA), said Major Francisco Mangubat, Commander of the 730th Combat Group of the 710th Special Operations Wing, Philippine Airforce (PAF) stationed in Nasugbu, Batangas.
According to Mangubat, 5 members of the NPA were killed in the 15-minute firefight, while two civilians were injured due to crossfire.
"We will deploy additional forces to Batangas in order to quell these rebels," said Lieutenant General Ricardo R. Visaya, Commander of AFP Southern Luzon Command.
The NPA, armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines, has been waging a guerrilla campaign against the government in the countryside for four decades. Military estimates the NPA strength at more than 4,000 men scattered in more than 60 guerrilla fronts throughout the country.
