MANILA, Dec. 20 (Xinhua) -- Two soldiers were killed while three others were wounded after landmines allegedly planted by rebels exploded during military operations in Camarines Sur province on Luzon island, the Philippine military said on Saturday.
According to a Facebook reel by the Philippine Army's 9th Infantry Division, the incident occurred on Friday in a mountainous village of Balatan municipality.
The army said the soldiers were hit by explosions from anti-personnel landmines.
Following the incident, the military said it has intensified pursuit operations against the New People's Army (NPA) rebels.
The NPA has waged a decades-long insurgency since 1969, seeking to overthrow the government.
The group continues to operate mainly in rural areas across Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao, though security officials say its ranks have sharply declined in recent years.
According to the military, the NPA's current strength is estimated at around 1,000 fighters -- far below its peak of roughly 25,000 in the mid-1980s. ■