GAMU, Isabela – Three suspected members of the New People’s Army (NPA) were killed and three high-powered guns were recovered in separate encounters between the rebels and the soldiers belonging to the Philippine Army’s 5th Infantry Division (5ID) in the provinces of Kalinga and Cagayan on Wednesday afternoon, May 3. Major Gen.  Audrey L. Pasia, commander of the Army’s 5ID, confirmed the two firefight incidents, saying that hot pursuit operations for the fleeing NPA rebels from the separate encounter sites are ongoing. In a flash report released by the Army’s 5ID, the operating troops of the Army’s 50th Infantry Battalion under the 503rd Infantry Brigade encountered more or less 20 members of Communist Terrorist NPA rebels in the outskirt of Sitio Angod, Barangay Poswoy, Balbalbalan, Kalinga at about 4  p.m. on Wednesday. The exchange of gunfire ended after the suspected NPA rebels scampered in different directions. The pursuing troops recovered from the encounter site one dead body of what was believed to be an NPA cadre and one M-16 Armalite rifle. There was no casualty from the government side after the firefight, a report said. The other encounter happened at about 3:30 p.m. in Sitio Bigoc,  Barangay Cielo, Buguey, Cagayan. The operating troops of the Army’s 95th Infantry Battalion under operation control of the Army’s 501st Infantry Brigade encountered more or less 20 NPA rebels that resulted in the death of two rebels and the recovery of two high caliber guns. No casualty was reported from government troops. Pasia reiterated his call for the surrender of the remnants of the Communist Terrorist Groups operating in Cagayan Valley provinces for the sake of lasting peace and development.