MANILA, Philippines, Jan. 22 (UPI) -- The Philippine military reports it killed at least 13 communist guerrillas in separate clashes last week while losing only two of its own.
The gun battles took place in the provinces of Quezon, Albay and Sorsogon, according to the Philippine Star on Monday.
In Barangay San Isidro in San Narciso, Quezon, troops from the Army's 74th Infantry Battalion discovered rebels from the New People's Army rehearsing attacks on Saturday, the report said. Seven NPA members were killed and one soldier died.
In Albay and Sorsogon provinces over the weekend, troops and guerrillas engaged in a series of firefights, and troops seized arms and munitions.
The New People's Army, which has been fighting for more than 30 years, has cells nationwide, but is only part of the country's security problem. The Philippines is also battling Muslim separatists in the south and an al-Qaida-related terrorist group, Abu Sayyaf.
