QUEZON – Two New People’s Army cadres were killed during a brief encounter with the government troops on Monday in Sitio Angelo, Barangay Umiray in Gen. Nakar, town.

The exchange of gunfire ensued after the Army’s 24th Division Reconnaissance Company and 80th Infantry Battalion conducting focused military operation (FMO) chanced upon an undetermined number of NPA rebels in the place.

The rebels belonging to Platun 1, Sentro de Gabridad (SDG), Komiteng Larangan Guerilla (KLG)-Narciso, hazily retreated, leaving their two dead comrades.

The military recovered the two dead bodies, an M14 rifle, M16 rifle, an M203 grenade launcher, and jungle packs in the clearing operation.

Brig. Gen. Cerilo Balaoro, commander of the 202nd Infantry Brigade, attributed the military campaign’s success on the cooperation of the people, who have been giving the authorities timely and accurate information on the presence of armed groups in one place.

These people, BGen Balaoro said, have grown tired of the NPA’s extortion and terroristic activities in their communities.

He added the joint Army and PNP are on their track pursuing the other fleeing rebels.

It marked the second collision inside a week as the military kept its intensified campaign against the rebels.

The other day, a rebel was also killed as a band of rebels and military engaged in a brief firefight in Barangay Magsaysay in Siniloan, Laguna.