TAGKAWAYAN, Quezon – Soldiers encountered an undetermined number of New People’s Army (NPA) rebels on Tuesday, December 19, in the boundary of Barangays Manato Cental and San Roque, this town.
The 85th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army was conducting a combat operation when they clashed with the communist rebels.

MAP of Tagkawayan, Quezon
The NPA withdrew after a brief gun battle and the police and military are pursuing them.
Recovered in the encounter site were a bandolier, four Improvised Explosive Devices (IED), four magazines, and four bags containing personal belongings and war materials.
No casualties were reported on the government side.
The encounter happened two days after a soldier and six NPA were killed in skirmish in Batangas on December 17.
The military is intensifying its campaign against the NPA, particularly in Quezon, but still encourages them to surrender and abandon the armed struggle.
The gun battle also happened more than a week before the 55th founding anniversary of the Communist Party of the Philippines.