MANILA, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Government forces have killed three suspected rebels in a clash in Negros Occidental province in central Philippines, a military report said Thursday.
The report added that three soldiers and a militia man were also wounded in the fighting that broke out between troops and New People's Army (NPA) rebels around 11 a.m. local time on Wednesday in a village in Escalante City.
Troops recovered an M653 rifle, an AK47 rifle, and a cal. 45 pistol left behind by the fleeing insurgents.
NPA rebels have been fighting the government troops 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. ■
