Manila, July 05: Fifteen communist rebels were killed while three government militiamen were wounded in separate clashes in the Philippines, the military said today.
Troops clashed with about 60 New People's Army (NPA) guerrillas near Pampanga province north of Manila for nine hours until dawn today, the army's 7th Infantry Dvision Commander Major General Alberto Braganza said.
"We have recovered two bodies and we believe their casualties could reach up to 15," Braganza said, citing reports on the field and radio intercepts from the rebels. "We are still scouring the area."
The firefight occurred near a river and the rebels later escaped using three motorboats, he said.
Yesterday, three government militiamen were wounded in an attack by about 150 NPA rebels in the southern province of Compostela valley, military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Lucero said.
The rebels were later repelled and it was not clear if there were any rebel fatalities, Lucero said.
The NPA, the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines, has been stepping up its attacks against government forces and installations in the countryside since last month.
Some 30 soldiers and militiamen have been killed and 13 others wounded in the clashes. The Pampanga casualties for the rebels were the biggest so far.
The clashes came amid efforts by both sides to resume peace talks suspended by President Gloria Arroyo in 2001 when the NPA gunned down two legislators.
Bureau Report
