By Francis Wakefield
Two Communist New People's Army (NPA) fighters were killed in an encounter with government troops in Bukidnon Monday.
A report reaching Camp Aguinaldo said troopers from the Army's 8th Infantry Battalion and 43rd Division Reconnaissance Company overran an NPA camp in the mountainous boundary of Bukidnon and Agusan del Sur.
The camp belongs to the NPA's Sub-Regional Committee 2 of North Central Mindanao Regional Committee, the report said.
Aside from killing two rebels, the soldiers also seized two M14 rifles.
Troops were pursuing the remnants of the rebel group, who left their dead cohorts behind.
Col Edgardo de Leon, 43rd Division Reconnaissance Company commander, congratulated his men for the successful operation.
4th Infantry Division commander Major Gen. Ronald Villanueva, who is also the acting commander of the Eastern Mindanao Command (EastMinCom), reiterated his call for NPA guerrillas to surrender.
"Our forces on the ground are unleashing their combat skills. To the remaining NPA terrorists who still want to challenge our government, show us what you've got. For those wanting to take the path to real peace, come to us and we will help you," Villanueva said.