BACOLOD CITY – Two members of the New People’s Army (NPA) were killed while 32 families were displaced after a series of clashes with government forces in Barangay Macagahay, Moises Padilla, Negros Occidental on Tuesday, June 13. The Army has yet to identify the slain rebels. The Army 62nd Infantry Battalion (IB) launched combat operations after receiving information about the alleged presence of an armed group in Barangay Macagahay. The military engaged in a 20-minute firefight against six NPA rebels. It was followed by another 15-minute clash in Sitio Cupad against the blocking force of the 62nd IB. Another clash happened when a platoon of the 62nd IB chased the fleeing NPA rebels in Sitio Mantauyan. No casualty was reported on the government side while two bodies from the enemy side were discovered. Military recovered from the encounter sites an M16 rifle, a 12-gauge shotgun, a .38 caliber revolver, four short magazine assembly for M16, two rounds of serviceable ammunition for shotgun, six rounds of serviceable ammunition for .38 caliber revolver, 79 rounds of 5.56mm ball for M16, a rifle grenade, two bandoliers, binoculars, two backpacks, two sling bags, and a power bank. The evacuees who were affected by the clashes were already given food packs by the local government and are temporarily sheltered at the Barangay Macagahay Evacuation Center. The battles came less than a month after military troopers encountered NPA rebels in Barangay Quintin Remo, Moises Padilla town, and in Barangay Trinidad, Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental where nine NPA rebels were killed.