MANILA, Philippines - Two suspected communist rebels were killed while another was wounded during a clash with government troops in Negros Oriental on Thursday.
The soldiers, members of the Philippine Army's 79th Infantry Battalion, exchanged with a group of gunmen, believed to be members of the New People's Army, around 6:30 a.m. in Barangay Balayong, Pamplona, Negros Oriental.
After the firefight, soldiers also recovered from the scene five M-16 assault rifles.
The wounded rebel has yet to be identified.