Philippine forces kill at least 10 Maoist rebels in raids: army
Manila: Government forces in the central Philippines have killed at least 10 Maoist guerrillas in several gun battles, the military said on April 20, in a deadly flare-up of the decades-old insurgency.
Troops were fighting “remnants” of the New People’s Army (NPA) rebel group on April 19 near the municipality of Toboso on Negros island, the regional military command said.
The exact number of dead rebels was uncertain, with Philippine Army spokesman Colonel Louie Dema-ala in Manila confirming that as many as 19 may have been killed.
The central Philippines military command said in a statement that “at least 10” NPA rebels were killed, including their local leader Roger Fabillar, in six firefights that all happened in Toboso on April 19.
Set up 57 years ago, NPA is fighting one of the world’s longest-running communist insurgencies.
The military estimates the rebel group has fewer than 2,000 armed members left.
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