On December 17, early morning clashes near the capital Manila resulted in the deaths of one Philippine soldier and six suspected rebels.
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| The Philippine military has deployed significant forces to counter rebel groups in recent times. (Source: The Bohol Chronicle) |
According to Philippine military spokesman Hector Estolas, at approximately 2:00 a.m. local time on December 17, government forces and a group of 14 rebels belonging to the self-proclaimed "New People's Army" (NPA) clashed fiercely.
A four-hour gun battle ensued in the town of Balayan, south of Manila, as government forces launched an offensive after receiving intelligence indicating that NPA forces were plotting an attack.
The subsequent clashes resulted in seven deaths, including one soldier, and three other soldiers were injured. Meanwhile, six suspected members of the NPA were killed.
The Philippine military is still searching for the remaining members of the NPA.
The NPA has been operating against the government since 1969, primarily organizing attacks in rural areas and has clashed with the military on numerous occasions. According to estimates by the Philippine military, the NPA currently has approximately 2,000 members.
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