8-1-2024 (MANILA) An alleged rebel leader was killed and a soldier injured in a clash between Philippine troops and New People’s Army (NPA) militants in Eastern Samar province, according to a military spokesperson on Sunday.
The encounter occurred on Saturday around 11:30 a.m. local time (03:30 GMT) on the outskirts of Borongan City. Jefferson Mariano, the public affairs chief of the Army’s 8th Infantry Division, stated that approximately 15 NPA militants were involved in the clash.
Mariano explained that the troops responded to a complaint from villagers regarding the presence of the rebels, prompting them to swoop into the area. After a 20-minute exchange, the rebels fled from the scene.
The NPA has been engaged in a long-standing conflict with the Philippine government since 1969. Their attacks are primarily concentrated in rural areas, where they often engage in skirmishes with the military.
According to military data, the NPA is currently estimated to have around 2,000 members, a significant decrease from its peak strength in the 1980s.
