Two soldiers dead and six wounded by suspected rebels in clashes in central Philippines

MANILA, Oct 9 (Xinhua): The Philippine military said on Saturday night (Oct 8) that suspected rebels had killed two soldiers and wounded six others in a clash in central Philippines.

The military said in a report that the fighting first broke out between soldiers and around 20 New People's Army (NPA) insurgents at around 6am local time on Thursday on the outskirts of Himamaylan City in Negros Occidental province, resulting in a long gunbattle that continued till Saturday, killing two soldiers and injuring six others.

The military said it sent troops to the area to track down the rebels after villagers tipped off their presence in the community.

The hunt for the fleeing rebels will continue, said the military. Local media reported that over 1,000 villagers fled their communities as the military offensive continued.

NPA rebels have been fighting the government since 1969. They concentrate their attacks on rural areas and have skirmishes with the military.

Military data showed that the NPA is estimated to have 2,000 members, significantly lower than its peak strength in the 1980s. - Xinhua