9 NPA rebels died in running gun battle with government troops in Malaybalay City Bukidnon

 

MALAYBALAY CITY - On Christmas Day, a skirmish occurred in the hinterlands of Malaybalay City, Bukidnon, resulting in the death of nine New People's Army (NPA) rebels.

Major General Jose Maria Cuerpo, commanding general of the Army's 4th Infantry Division, reported that the rebels, suspected to be gearing up for an event related to the Communist Party of the Philippines' founding anniversary, were engaged by government troops.

The clash, which took place despite the Communist Party's unilateral ceasefire, involved three Army battalions supported by Philippine Air Force airstrikes.

The operation, executed at 3 am in Sitio Kiito, Barangay Can-ayan, located seven kilometers from Malaybalay City, led to the recovery of eight firearms. No soldiers were injured, and follow-up operations continued on Christmas day to locate the remaining rebels in nearby barangays. The military action occurred just three hours after the commencement of the two-day holiday truce declared by the Communist Party of the Philippines.