Philippine media: Philippine military clashes with rebel forces, killing 5 rebel members

[Global Times Special Correspondent Wang Yi] According to a report by the Philippine Daily Inquirer on the 17th, the Philippine military clashed with members of the anti-government armed group "New People's Army" on the 16th. The Philippine military claimed to have killed 5 members of the anti-government armed group and seized multiple high-powered firearms.

This military operation took place in the town of Cayayan in central Negros Occidental. The 15th Infantry Battalion of the 302nd Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army engaged in a firefight with members of the anti-government armed group "New People's Army." After the battle, the Philippine military seized eight high-powered firearms from the scene, including an M60 machine gun.

The Manila Bulletin reported on the 17th that this was the second firefight between the 15th Infantry Battalion and the "New People's Army" in Cayayan this month. Additionally, the 79th Infantry Battalion of the 303rd Infantry Brigade launched a military operation last month in Toboso, Negros Occidental, killing 19 members of the "New People's Army."

According to a report by the Philippine News Agency on the 17th, the Communist Party of the Philippines formed the "New People's Army" in the 1960s, aiming to overthrow the Philippine government by force. France 24 reported that the "New People's Army" has been waging an armed struggle against the Philippine government. In 2023, the number of villages controlled by the "New People's Army" is about 200, down from over 1,300 in 2008. After significant reductions in funding and influence, the organization currently has only about 1,500 armed personnel left.