Troops kill 2 rebels in Zamboanga Norte clash

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines - Two communist insurgents were killed while two others, including a soldier, were wounded in an encounter in Leon Postigo town in Zamboanga del Norte, Wednesday afternoon.

The elements of the Philippine Army's 10th Infantry Battalion launched the operation following reports that New People’s Army (NPA) rebels were extorting money from the residents of Barangay Tinuyop.

“According to 10th Infantry Battalion commanding officer Lt. Col. Taharudin Ampatuan, his troops went to the area to respond to reports from residents that NPA bandits were conducting extortion activities in the area,” Capt. Alberto Caber, Spokesman of 1st Army Division.

“These bandits belonged to the extortion unit of the Western Mindanao Regional Party Committee,” Caber said based on Ampatuan's report.

He said that according to Ampatuan, the troops were conducting a regular security patrol when they chanced upon at least 20 members of the NPA. The firefight that started at around 3 p.m., lasted for almost an hour.

Caber said they have yet to identify the slain rebels.

Troops recovered an M16 assault rifle from the site of the encounter site.

Pursuit operations against the rebels were ongoing. Checkpoints have also been set up as part of the military's blocking operations in Leon Postigo town.