MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) - A member of the leftist New People's Army (NPA) was killed and another member was arrested in separate encounters between government troops and the rebel group in Compostela Valley today, local military said.
The first encounter occurred around 8:40 a.m. at Lunganapan village in Laak town after concerned civilians informed the government troops about the presence of armed men conducting roadblock, said Lieutenant Colonel Lyndon Paniza, spokesman for the 10th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army.
One NPA member died in the following 20-minute firefight, after which the soldiers were able to recover 40 rounds of ammunitions for caliber 7.62 millimeter and a M60 machine gun, a backpack and a 50-meter electrical wire for landmine, he said.
The second fighting occurred at 1:40 p.m. when troops of 60th Infantry Battalion pursued the withdrawing NPA at the vicinity of San Antonio, village in Laak town also, Paniza said.
The government troops nabbed a minor NPA member during the clash. The minor, who sustained head injury during his escape when it rolled down the rugged terrain, was given immediate first aid treatment by the soldiers, he said.
There were no reported casualties on the operating government troops in both clashes, Paniza added.