MANILA, Philippines, July 24 (UPI) -- The Philippine military has reported 28 communist insurgents and four soldiers were killed last week in a series of gun battles in Mindanao.
Armed Forces of the Philippines Southern Command spokesman Capt. Jose Ritche Pabilonia said the fighting began last Monday when the military launched ground and air attacks on members of the New People's Army to disrupt NPA and forced taxation activities, according to the Manila Bulletin.
He said at least seven gun battles had taken place in the forested and mountainous areas in Tampakan, South Cotabato; Colombo in Sultan Kudarat and Matanao in Davao del Sur.
The number of wounded was put at six army soldiers. The number of NPA wounded was undetermined.
The Maoist NPA has been waging war against the central Philippine government for more than 30 years. Their activities are especially heavy in Luzon, the northern island where Manila is located, the central Visayas and in the south, where the government is also fighting Muslim separatists and an Islamic group affiliated with al-Qaida.
The clashes come amid orders to the military and the Philippine National Police from President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to end the communist insurgency within two years.
