10 Communist Rebels Killed By Shootout With Philippine Troops

UNSPLASH/Daniel ILLUSTRATION

JAKARTA - Philippine troops killed 10 suspected communist insurgents in clashes in remote areas north of the Philippines.

Reported authorities, 3 rebel commanders were also killed. Meanwhile, 20 New People's Army insurgents were arrested in Nueva Ecija province.

Thirteen rifles and one pistol were found at the battle site, which is located near the main dam. Troops are chasing about 10 other insurgents who withdrew from remote areas, regional military spokesman Major Jimson Masangay said.

The government did not fail to ask them to surrender and return to normal life, said Norwin Joseph Pasamonte, commander of the army infantry brigade.

Last November, the government and communist rebels agreed to continue negotiations aimed at ending the armed uprising, one of Asia's longest negotiations, in a meeting in Oslo, Norway.

But peace negotiations that have not actually restarted under the leadership of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Philippine officials say some 1,000 communist fighters are still surviving after years of setbacks and surrender. Peace talks brokered by Norway failed under the leadership of previous President Rodrigo Duterte after the two sides accused each other of continuing to carry out deadly attacks despite negotiations.