5 NPA rebels killed in Surigao

COTABATO, Philippines (Xinhua) - Five members of the New People's Army (NPA) had been killed in a clash with government troops in Surigao, military officials said today.

Lieutenant General Aurelio Baladad, Commander of Eastern Mindanao, said troops under 29th Infantry Battalion encountered more than 20 heavily armed NPA rebels while they were patrolling around 10:00 a.m. local times on Thursday in the village of Mati.

He said the firefight lasted for 15 minutes, leaving five rebel fatalities. There were no casualties on the government side.

The military official said soldiers recovered one M16 rifle, one M653 armalite rifle and one M203 grenade launcher from the scene of encounter.