MANILA, Philippines – Soldiers from the 84th Infantry Battalion engaged in a firefight with New People’s Army (NPA) rebels Saturday morning, November 14, in Barangay Carmen, Davao City, the military said in a statement.
"The troops, acting on reports of NPAs laying landmines in the area engaged the armed group in a 45-minute fire fight,” the military said.
The public affairs office of the 10th Infantry Division claimed the troops recovered 3 backpacks, 3 improvised explosive devices, 300-meter wire, and one detonator after the rebels fled the site of the clash.
No casualties were reported from either the soldiers or the rebels, but the military said it is conducting pursuit operations on the fleeing NPAs.
The communist rebellion across the Philippines is Asia’s longest running insurgency.
Peace talks between the Philippine government and the communist leadership have been delayed due to several issues, such as the demand of the Communist Party of the Philippines to release its detained consultants.
Government officials admitted there is not enough time to complete a peace agreement with the Philippines' revolutionary Left. There is, however, keen interest to reduce the encounters between government troops and the NPA, especially in the coming elections. (READ: NDF proposes 6-month, time-bound peace talks) – Rappler.com